Surgical treatment of septic pedal osteitis in horses: nine cases (1980-1987).

This research discusses the treatment of septic pedal osteitis, a horse foot disease, in nine cases over eight years, which involves surgery and the systemic administration of antibodies. Seven of the horses returned to their original health and function within 12 weeks after surgery.

Research context and definition of septic pedal osteitis

• The researchers from the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine studied nine horses with septic pedal osteitis over an eight-year period.
• This condition is characterised by a purulent exudate or pus, combined with radiographic evidence of lysis or disintegration of the distal phalanx, the outermost bone of the horse’s foot.
• The condition is focussed on the distal phalanx, the laminae and hoofwall, and the soft tissues of the sole.

Treatment methodology

• The treatment procedure for septic pedal osteitis involved a surgical approach. This consisted of curettage, which is a process of removing the diseased tissue or debris from the affected area and removing the affected part of the distal phalanx.
• The surgery is performed from a ventral or under surface approach to the foot.
• Along with the surgical process, systemic administration of antibodies was conducted. The term ‘systemic’ indicates that the administration affects the whole body, not just a specific area.

Post-treatment outcomes

• Out of the 9 horses that were treated under this procedure, 7 returned to normal health and resumed their original function within three months after the surgery.
• However, 2 horses passed away in the early postoperative period. Importantly, their deaths were not related to the surgery or to septic pedal osteitis itself, indicating that the treatment was not the cause of mortality.