Facilitated ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint in a foal.

This research article reports a case of a 3-month-old Quarter Horse colt who suffered from chronic lameness due to a penetrating injury that caused septic arthritis and persisting sepsis that didn’t respond to conventional treatment. The study showcases the successful treatment through facilitated ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint, making it the first of its kind.

Background of the Case

• The study presents a unique case of a Quarter Horse colt which suffered a considerable penetrating injury above the coronary band of its right forelimb.
• The wound led to two significant complications: an articular bone sequestrum (dead piece of bone that has become separated from the rest of the bone during disease) and septic arthritis in the distal interphalangeal joint.
• Despite concerted efforts to treat the septic arthritis, further complications arose in the form of severe osteoarthritis and sepsis, which caused the horse to exhibit persistent lameness.

Surgical Approach

• The horse underwent facilitated ankylosis, a surgical procedure performed to stabilize a joint and alleviate pain, on the distal interphalangeal joint.
• The process involved open surgical debridement (the removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound), the placement of an autogenous cancellous bone graft (transplantation of spongy bone tissue), and stabilisation within a transfixation cast.
• Seven weeks after the surgery, radiographic images indicated the occurrence of bony ankylosis, which is abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones at the joint.

Post-Surgery Assessment and Recovery

• 30 months after the surgery, evaluations showed complete fusion of the middle and distal phalanges and the distal sesamoid bone, revealing a successful result of the procedure.
• Subsequently, the horse’s health improved significantly, and it regained enough health and mobility for grazing and breeding.

Significance of the Study

• This study reports the first successful instance of facilitated ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint in a foal, making it an important landmark in equine veterinary medicine.
• The approach served as an effective solution for unresolved septic arthritis in the horse’s distal interphalangeal joint, where conventional treatments had failed.