Clinical application and prognostic value of computed tomography examination in foals diagnosed with osteomyelitis: Forty-four cases.
Abstract: Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly recognized as superior to conventional imaging methods for diagnosing osteomyelitis in foals. However, comprehensive studies in this area are limited. This study aims to report on clinical cases of osteomyelitis in foals, establishing a relationship between CT findings and survival outcomes. Additionally, it compares CT imaging with conventional methods such as radiography and ultrasound. We hypothesized that CT variables would more accurately predict survival than other clinical factors and provide more detailed information about osteomyelitis lesions. This retrospective study included foals presenting at a single equine referral hospital between July 2019 and December 2022. Inclusion criteria were: (1) foals less than 9 months of age, (2) presumptive clinical diagnosis of osteomyelitis, and (3) CT examination for further evaluation. Forty-four foals met the criteria; 29 (66%) survived to discharge, and 23 (55%) had long-term survival. Key variables associated with survival included joint collapse (P = .011, OR, 0.054, 95% CI, 0.006-0.506) and lesions in multiple locations (P = .015, OR, 0.19, 95% CI, 0.05-0.7). In 93% of cases, CT examination modified the diagnosis, revealing improved lesion localization (72%), lesion size (76%), or detecting additional lesions (45%). Common lesions involved the axial and proximal appendicular skeletons, with 8 foals (18%) having only axial skeleton involvement and 5 (11%) presenting with both axial and appendicular lesions. Coxofemoral joint involvement was diagnosed in 12 foals (27%), while pelvic lesions were found in 8 (18%). These findings underscore the critical role of CT in identifying and localizing complex lesions, ultimately improving prognostic assessments.
© 2024 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
Publication Date: 2024-12-17 PubMed ID: 39681986DOI: 10.1111/vru.13475Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research studied how useful computed tomography (CT) scans are for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in young horses (foals) with osteomyelitis (bone infection). The results highlight that CT scans often give more precise and detailed information about the location and extent of the bone infection, which ultimately helps better predict survival chances for affected horses.
Research Background and Purpose
- The goal of the study was to assess whether computed tomography (CT) scans, a particular form of medical imaging, could provide accurate diagnoses of osteomyelitis (an infectious bone disease primarily caused by bacteria) in foals.
- The researchers also wanted to determine whether the data derived from CT scans could help predict the survival odds of foals with osteomyelitis.
Study Design
- This was a retrospective study that included young horses or foals less than 9 months of age that had a preliminary clinical diagnosis of osteomyelitis and went through CT examination at a specific equine referral hospital from July 2019 to December 2022.
- In total, 44 foals met the study criteria.
Results and Discussion
- From the studied foals, 66% survived the infection and were able to leave the hospital, while 55% had long-term survival.
- Key variables that significantly affected the chances of survival included joint collapse and the presence of lesions in multiple locations.
- CT examination changed the diagnosis in 93% of cases, either through better lesion localization, more accurate determination of lesion size, or identification of additional lesions not previously detected.
- The lesions were commonly found in the axial (central) and proximal appendicular (near the body) skeletons. Just over a quarter of the foals had bone infection in the hip joint (cooxfemoral), and 18% of them had lesions in the pelvic regions.
- The findings support the researchers’ hypothesis on the superior value of CT over traditional imaging methods in diagnosing osteomyelitis and predicting survival outcomes in foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Buyck C, Zani DD, Robert M, Gustafsson K.
(2024).
Clinical application and prognostic value of computed tomography examination in foals diagnosed with osteomyelitis: Forty-four cases.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 66(1), e13475.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13475 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot Pays d'Auge, France.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
- Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot Pays d'Auge, France.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Osteomyelitis / veterinary
- Osteomyelitis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteomyelitis / mortality
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Retrospective Studies
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
- Prognosis
- Male
- Female
- Animals, Newborn
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