Septic Arthritis, Physitis, and Osteomyelitis in Foals.
Abstract: Despite differences in etiology and diagnostics, the mainstay of therapy in the foal is similar to the adult: local lavage and/or debridement and local antimicrobial therapy. When musculoskeletal infection is concurrent with neonatal sepsis, the prognosis for survival is fair. When musculoskeletal infection is the primary problem, the prognosis is fair to good for survival of synovial, bony, and physeal infections with appropriate and aggressive local therapy. Recent literature may indicate that prognosis for survival and potential athleticism in foals that are treated expediently with local therapies and are without comorbidities may be more favorable than has been previously indicated.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-07-09 PubMed ID: 28687092DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.03.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper discusses the treatment and prognosis of septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and physitis – conditions related to infections in the musculoskeletal system – in young horses, or foals. The paper suggests that with swift and aggressive local treatments, the prognosis for survival and potential athleticism in foals can be more positive than previously thought.
Overview of the Study
- The main focus of the study is on the treatment and prognosis of septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and physitis in foals. These are conditions that are related to infections in the musculoskeletal system of the foals.
- Despite differences in the cause and diagnostic methods for these conditions, the main treatment approach in foals remains similar to adult horses – local lavage and/or debridement (medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve healing) and local antimicrobial therapy (using antimicrobials directly on the infection site).
Prognosis
- When musculoskeletal infection occurs at the same time as neonatal sepsis (a serious, life-threatening infection that spreads throughout the body), the prognosis for the foal’s survival is fair.
- If the musculoskeletal infection is the primary problem (i.e., not accompanied by neonatal sepsis or other conditions), the chances for survival are considered fair to good. This applies to infections in the synovial (joint fluid), bony, and physeal (growth plate) areas, provided appropriate and aggressive local therapy is administrated.
Impact of Local Therapies and Comorbidities
- Recent literature reviewed in the study may indicate that the prognosis for survival and potential athleticism in foals may be more favorable than previously indicated. This potential improvement in prognosis is specifically linked to cases where the foals are treated quickly with local therapies and do not present with comorbidities (additional health conditions).
- This suggests the imperative nature of swift, localized treatment methods and the significant role they play in increasing the chances for the foal’s survival and future athleticism.
Cite This Article
APA
Glass K, Watts AE.
(2017).
Septic Arthritis, Physitis, and Osteomyelitis in Foals.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 33(2), 299-314.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2017.03.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA. Electronic address: awatts@cvm.tamu.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis
- Arthritis, Infectious / therapy
- Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Osteitis / diagnosis
- Osteitis / therapy
- Osteitis / veterinary
- Osteomyelitis / diagnosis
- Osteomyelitis / therapy
- Osteomyelitis / veterinary
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Jacobsen S, Mortensen CD, Høj EA, Vinther AM, Berg LC, Adler DMT, Verwilghen D, van Galen G. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Synovial Fluid from Horses with and without Septic Arthritis.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 21;13(1).
- Pezzanite LM, Chow L, Phillips J, Griffenhagen GM, Moore AR, Schaer TP, Engiles JB, Werpy N, Gilbertie J, Schnabel LV, Antczak D, Miller D, Dow S, Goodrich LR. TLR-activated mesenchymal stromal cell therapy and antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant Staphylococcal septic arthritis in an equine model.. Ann Transl Med 2022 Nov;10(21):1157.
- Aleman MR, True A, Scalco R, Crowe CM, Costa LRR, Chigerwe M. Gentamicin-induced sensorineural auditory loss in healthy adult horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2486-2494.
- Grzeskowiak RM, Alghazali KM, Hecht S, Donnell RL, Doherty TJ, Smith CK, Anderson DE, Biris AS, Adair HS. Influence of a novel scaffold composed of polyurethane, hydroxyapatite, and decellularized bone particles on the healing of fourth metacarpal defects in mares.. Vet Surg 2021 Jul;50(5):1117-1127.
- Ruocco NA 3rd, Luedke LK, Fortier LA, Ducharme NG, Reesink HL. Rhodococcus equi Joint Sepsis and Osteomyelitis Is Associated With a Grave Prognosis in Foals.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:503.
- Cotts L, Amaral RV, Laeta M, Cunha-Filho CA, Moratelli R. Pathology in the appendicular bones of southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Xenarthra, Pilosa): injuries to the locomotor system and first case report of osteomyelitis in anteaters.. BMC Vet Res 2019 Apr 25;15(1):120.
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