Improvement in Bilateral Carpal Valgus Deviation in 9 Foals After Unilateral Distolateral Radial Periosteal Transection and Elevation.

This study examined the impact of a specific surgical intervention, periosteal transection and elevation, on foals affected by bilateral carpal valgus deviation, a condition causing a twisting or angling of the limb. While all limbs showed a reduction in the valgus angle, the surgery did not significantly affect this reduction compared to non-surgical control limbs.

Research Methodology

• The researchers conducted a prospective clinical study involving nine foals suffering from bilateral carpal valgus, a condition where both front limbs are distorted or angled outwards.
• To correct the deviation, a surgical procedure known as ‘distolateral radial periosteal transection and elevation’ was performed on one limb of each foal. In this procedure, a portion of the periosteum (a dense layer of vascular connective tissue enveloping the bones) is cut and lifted to encourage bone growth and reshaping. The distal ulnar, a bone in the lower half of the front leg, was also cut as part of the process.
• Following the surgery, the foals were kept in stalls until the incisions healed. They were then allowed to exercise freely in a small paddock or a round pen.
• Dorsopalmar carpal radiographs, a specific type of x-ray imaging, were taken every two weeks to measure the carpal valgus angle (CVA), the degree of limb twist or angle. This was done until the CVA was less than 5 degrees, an angle typically considered within the healthy range.

Research Findings

• All limbs of the foals showed a decrease in the CVA over time. This demonstrated that the condition improved regardless of the intervention.
• However, the surgical procedure did not result in a substantial difference in the reduction of the CVA or the speed at which it occurred compared to the control limb (the untreated limb).

Research Conclusions

• The study found that unilateral periosteal transection and elevation did not significantly impact carpal angulation in foals with natural bilateral carpal valgus deviation.
• The intervention, undertaken when the foals were between 19 and 43 days old, did not show a significant effect on the condition compared to untreated limbs. This suggests that the surgical intervention may not be a necessary approach to correcting bilateral carpal valgus deviation in young foals.