This research article delves into the clinical traits, short-term outcomes, and future racing performance of thoroughbred foals afflicted with septic osteomyelitis, a bone infection. The study utilized data from 108 foals treated at the Scone Veterinary Hospital and evaluated factors like age, the severity of infection, and the number of joints or bones affected. The results suggest a positive prognosis for survival but varied implications for racing prospects, heavily depending on case specifics.

Research Method

• The research involved a retrospective study examining the medical records of 108 thoroughbred foals that were treated at the Scone Veterinary Hospital from August 1995 to December 2001. These foals had radiographic proof of bone infection, later established as septic osteomyelitis.
• The researchers extracted data concerning the foals’ signalment, clinical, laboratory and radiographic findings, treatment procedures, and outcomes.
• Once the foals involved in the study reached racing age, their racing records were obtained and analyzed to create a thorough evaluation of their athletic performance.

Key Findings

• The average age of the foals at the first evaluation was 39 days, with some as young as a day old and others as old as 180 days.
• Multiple radiographic bone lesions were diagnosed in 21 out of the 108 foals (19.4%) while 76 (70.4%) had concurrent septic arthritis.
• The bones most frequently infected were the femur, tibia, and distal phalanx.
• 87 of the studied foals survived the infection and were discharged from the hospital. Of these, 79 reached racing age, and out of these, 52 made it to the racing stage. Consequently, 48% of the treated foals had a racing career.
• A negative correlation was observed between the age at diagnosis, critical illness, and multiple joint or bone involvement with the likelihood of being discharged from hospital. Foals with such characteristics were significantly less likely to be discharged.
• For racing outcomes, an unfavorable prognosis was associated with multiple septic joints. However, multiple bone infections did not exhibit a noticeable impact on the foals’ racing careers.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that foals with septic osteomyelitis or osteitis have a generally favorable prognosis for survival.
• The involvement of multiple bones or joints significantly impacts the short-term prognosis. However, the prognosis for future racing prospects was unfavorably impacted by the involvement of multiple joints but not multiple bone infections.