Retrospective study of 108 foals with septic osteomyelitis

Abstract

Objective To determine the clinical characteristics, short-term outcome and future athletic performance of foals with septic osteomyelitis.Design Retrospective clinical study of 108 Thoroughbred foals with radiographic evidence of bone infection that were presented at the Scone Veterinary Hospital between August 1995 and December 2001. Medical records were reviewed and information concerning signalment, the clinical, laboratory and radiographic findings, treatment and outcome was obtained. Racing records were obtained and evaluated for surviving foals that had reached racing age.Results Mean age of foals at initial evaluation was 39 days (range 1-180 days); 21 foals had multiple radiographic bone lesions (19.4%), and 76 had concurrent septic arthritis (70.4%). The most frequently affected bones were the femur, tibia and distal phalanx. In total, 87 foals were discharged from the hospital (80.6%), 79 survived long-term to reach racing age and 52 raced (65.8%). Overall, 48% (52/108) of the foals treated for osteomyelitis raced. Foals less than 30 days of age at the time of diagnosis, critically ill foals and those with multiple bones or joints affected were significantly less likely to be discharged from hospital. Multiple septic joints, but not multiple bone involvement, had an unfavourable prognosis for racing. ConclusionsThe prognosis for survival of foals with septic osteomyelitis or osteitis is favourable. Multiple bone or joint involvement is an important short-term prognostic indicator; however, the involvement of multiple joints, but not multiple infected bones, is associated with an unfavourable prognosis for racing. a Total of 106 affected joints: some foals had more than one joint affected. *Joints affected statistically more often (P < 0.05) than other joints. EQUINE EQUINEOverall, P-type lesions were more common than E-type lesions, in contrast to other studies. 2,9 Although E-type lesions have been reported to have a poorer prognosis because of the accompanying EQUINE EQUINE

Cervical Vertebral Osteomyelitis With Secondary Septic Arthritis of the Atlantoaxial Joint in a Foal: A Case Report

“…Benefits of the combination are that it provides a broad spectrum of activity and has minimal side effects [18]. Many gram-positive and gram-negative organisms have been isolated from foals with vertebral osteomyelitis, particularly Streptococcus spp., Actinobacillus equuli, Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., and Rhodococcus equi [3,13,15,27,28]. These bacteria, with the exception of Salmonella spp.…”

“…When IgG is routinely assessed and Hypermune equine plasma (Veterinary Immunogenics Ltd., Penrith, United Kingdom) is administered to foals with IgG <400 mg/dL, the cumulative incidence of osteomyelitis within the first 30 days is 0.2% [2]. In foals less than 6 months of age with septic osteomyelitis, the femur, distal phalanx, and tibia are the most commonly affected sites, accounting for 55% of cases [3]. Concurrent septic arthritis is present in 70% of foals of which 93% have osteomyelitis of bones adjacent to a septic joint [3].…”

“…In foals less than 6 months of age with septic osteomyelitis, the femur, distal phalanx, and tibia are the most commonly affected sites, accounting for 55% of cases [3]. Concurrent septic arthritis is present in 70% of foals of which 93% have osteomyelitis of bones adjacent to a septic joint [3]. Vertebral osteomyelitis is an uncommon condition in foals, most commonly affecting the cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal column [4].…”

Clinical use of antimicrobial regional limb perfusion in horses: 174 cases (1999–2009)

“…There were 5 yearlings or young horses that had not started training and 30 foals (age ≤ 6 months). There were 96 horses with septic synovitis (group 1; 74 septic joints, 16 septic sheaths, and 6 septic bursae), 50 with lacerations (group 2; 27 fresh, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations and 23 extrasynovial lacerations), and 28 with other conditions (group 3; osteomyelitis [4], fractures [2], prophylactic use of A-RLP [11], surgical site infections [5], and other conditions [6]). Median (range) duration prior to admission to the hospital was 4 days (0 to 60 days; group 1), 0 days (0 to 25 days; group 2), and 5 days (0 to 180 days; group 3).…”

“…4,15,34,38,51 In this study, only 7 foals with multiple joints affected were included, and of those, only 3 survived. Concurrent osteomyelitis has also been reported to negatively influence prognosis 4,36,39,52 ; however, that was not observed in the present study. The high antimicrobial concentrations achieved in bone tissue after A-RLP 22,53 might result in better outcome for these horses.…”