Warmblood Foal Research Articles

Computer-assisted surgery for placing toggle constructs across the coxofemoral joints of small equids using a minimally invasive approach-A proof-of-concept cadaveric study.

To develop a minimally invasive technique for placing a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equids using computer-assisted surgery. Experimental cadaveric study. Three pilot specimens: One donkey, one Shetland pony and one Warmblood foal. Six main study specimens: Three Shetland ponies, one American Miniature Horse, one Warmblood foal and one donkey. Experimental surgeries were performed on both coxofemoral joints of each cadaver. Using a minimally invasive surgical approach, 5.5 mm bone canals were drilled through the femur and acetabulum, traversing the coxofemoral joint. Intraoperative guidance was provided by a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-coupled surgical navigation system. A toggle construct was introduced through the bone canals. Surgical accuracy aberrations (SAA) were measured at the femoral entry and exit points and at the acetabular entry point on merged pre- and postoperative CBCT scans. The coxofemoral joint was assessed for articular cartilage damage by gross dissection. A toggle construct was placed across all 18 coxofemoral joints. The overall median SAA in the main study was 2.8 mm (range: 0.4-8.0 mm). No cartilage damage was found in the cadaveric specimens of the main study. The described technique allowed for the placement of a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equid cadaveric specimens without prior coxofemoral luxation. This technique may serve as an option for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral joints in small equids. Further biomechanical investigations are required to assess optimal implant positioning and toggle constructs.

Alternative approach for fracture fixation following implant infection in aSalter‐Harris type‐IIfracture of the proximal phalanx in a Warmblood foal

SummaryA 2‐day‐old female Warmblood foal (70 kg) presented with a closed, displaced Salter‐Harris type‐II fracture of the proximal physis of the left hind first phalanx. The fracture was repaired with four 4.5 mm cortical screws and a wire in a figure‐of‐8 pattern applied on the lateral and medial aspect of the phalanx, respectively. A 4.5 mm cortical screw was additionally inserted in lag‐fashion to engage the lateral metaphyseal spike. Three days postoperatively, medial and proximal displacement of the distal fracture fragment and implant infection were apparent and revision surgery was performed. Previous implants were removed and two 4.5 mm transphyseal cortical lag‐screws were placed in proximolateral–distomedial and dorsoproximal–plantarodistal direction across the physis and the fracture line. Postoperatively, the fracture healed rapidly and the implants were removed 6 weeks later. Nineteen months after implant removal, the horse did not show any sign of lameness, despite a shortening of the proximal phalanx compared to the contralateral limb. In cases of postoperative implant instability and infection, implant removal often becomes necessary. However, new implants cannot be placed safely in the previous location. To avoid this problem, this report describes an alternative approach for screw positioning in case of previous implant infection in a Salter‐Harris type‐II fracture of the proximal physis of the first phalanx.

Treatment of Quarter Crack Using Polymethyl Methacrylate Composites with a Reshaped Gluing Shoe in a Warmblood Foal

Treatment of Quarter Crack Using Polymethyl Methacrylate Composites with a Reshaped Gluing Shoe in a Warmblood Foal

Successful surgical debridement of a cerebral Streptococcus equi equi abscess by parietal bone flap craniotomy in a 2‐month‐old Warmblood foal

SummaryBrain abscesses and intracranial masses have been regularly described in horses. Treatment often is difficult and unrewarding and mortality rate high. This case report describes the successful treatment of a cerebral abscess in a 2‐month‐old female Warmblood foal with severe neurological signs of acute onset. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 3 × 4 × 4 cm cerebral mass in the left brain hemisphere with severe cerebral oedema. Craniotomy, using a parietal bone flap technique, allowed the abscess to be sampled, drained and lavaged. Immediately, post‐surgery the foal showed significant clinical improvement. Sample culture confirmed Streptococcus equi equi infection. The foal was medically treated for 6 weeks, leading to complete clinical and radiographical recovery. Intracranial surgery in equine medicine is limited. Using a parietal bone flap instead of partial craniectomy to gain access to the cerebrum is a less invasive procedure leading to a better aesthetic result and should be considered for the treatment of cerebral masses in the horse.

Seizure-like activity after gadolinium administration in an anaesthetised foal undergoing magnetic resonance imaging

The use of MRI has been recently increasing in veterinary patients, and this modality has been adapted for use in large animals with the concurrent use of gadolinium-based contrast media....

Congenitale cutane fibropapillomatose bij een warmbloedveulen

In deze casuïstiek wordt een zeldzaam geval van een congenitaal fibropapilloma op het voorhoofd van een warmbloedveulen beschreven. Chirurgische excisie van de massa was succesvol en na negen maanden nog steeds zonder recidief. Er werden geen andere abnormaliteiten bij het veulen vastgesteld. Morfologisch gezien betreft het letsel een fibro-epitheliaal type hamartoma van de huid. De fibreuze component werd tot dusver enkel bij varkens beschreven. Alhoewel bij volwassen dieren fibropapilloma’s vaak voorkomen en geassocieerd zijn met papillomavirusinfecties, werd zowel bij veulens als biggen voor de congenitale fibropapilloma’s nog geen virale oorzaak aangetoond. Ook in deze casus waren geen histopathologische indicaties voor infectie met papillomavirus en kon evenmin de aanwezigheid van papillomavirus-DNA aangetoond worden met PCR.

Resuscitation attempts in a foal with sudden cardiac arrest in the early recovery period

A 3-month-old female Warmblood foal, weighing 150 kg, was presented to the Equine Clinic of the University of Hannover with a fracture of the ulna (type 5 fracture of the olecranon). Anaesthesia was induced with midazolam and ketamine after sedation with xylazine and maintained with isoflurane. Anaesthesia was uneventful until cardiac arrest occurred in the early recovery period. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed with chest compressions and electrical defibrillation. During resuscitation palpebral reflexes and spontaneous breathing returned but ventricular fibrillation could not be converted to sinus rhythm by transthoracic defibrillation of the heart by electrical shock.

Distal aortic aneurysm presumed to be secondary to an infected umbilical artery in a foal

CASE HISTORY: A 3-month-old female Warmblood foal was presented after displaying signs of colic with pyrexia for 5 days. CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The foal continued to show signs of colic, frequently passed urine, and was pyrexic with an elevated white blood cell count. The umbilical stalk was thickened but there was no evidence of purulent material. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an enlarged left umbilical artery remnant tightly adhered to the bladder wall. The left umbilical artery continued to an aneurysm involving the distal aorta. The foal was subject to euthanasia and post-mortem examination confirmed a spherical aortic aneurysm, in the dorsal midline caudal to the kidneys that contained a large thrombus. Histopathological examination revealed inflammation and necrosis of the tunica intima and tunica media of the left umbilical artery with suppuration and bacterial colonies evident in the periarterial tissues. DIAGNOSIS: Infected aortic aneurysm presumably caused by an umbilical artery infection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A previously undetected umbilical infection appears to have resulted in an unusual delayed complication causing signs of colic in a foal. Veterinarians should be aware of this condition, and the possibility that it may be a cause of signs of colic in foals. Diagnosis based on ultrasonography should be possible, but may require sedation, visceral analgesia and careful examination.

Bullous emphysema with haemorrhage in a premature foal

SummaryA Warmblood foal was admitted at one day of age because of prematurity and seizures. Clinical and clinical pathology abnormalities were consistent with prematurity and suspected hypoxic seizures that responded to anti‐convulsive therapy. The foal stabilised after several days of intensive care but then developed an airway infection. Thoracic radiographs showed multiple cavitary lesions and ultrasound examination suggested intra‐cavital haemorrhage. The foal went on to develop septicaemia and was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem examination revealed multiple bullous emphysema with haemorrhage. This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of foals having air‐fluid filled cavities on thoracic radiographs.

Cutaneous asthenia in a Warmblood foal

A 6-week-old Warmblood colt foal was presented for investigation of multiple haematoma formation in various locations, poor wound healing and abnormal scar formation. Based on the history and clinical presentation of hyperextensible skin with prolonged skin tenting, the foal was diagnosed with cutaneous asthenia and euthanased because of the poor prognosis. Histopathological and electron microscopic findings were inconclusive. This is the first case report of cutaneous asthenia in a Warmblood horse in Australia. Cutaneous asthenia is reviewed with particular reference to hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia and its similarities and differences to the case presented.

Diagnosis of internal and external hydrocephalus in a warmblood foal using magnetic resonance imaging

Diagnosis of internal and external hydrocephalus in a warmblood foal using magnetic resonance imaging -

Ventral Locking Compression Plate for Treatment of Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy in a 3‐Month‐Old Warmblood Foal

To report a novel technique for cervical vertebral fusion in a foal with cervical vertebral malformation (CVM). Case report. A 3-month-old Warmblood filly with ataxia, weakness, and stenotic myelopathy at the level of the articulation of the 6th (C6) and 7th (C7) cervical vertebrae had a 7-hole broad locking compression plate (LCP) applied to the ventral aspect of C6 and C7 using seven 5.0-mm locking screws. Revision surgery was required to replace the self-drilling screws, which had migrated, with longer non self-drilling screws. Fusion and growth of the vertebrae were monitored radiographically at 4, 10, and 16 months using radiography and the filly was followed for 32 months. The filly recovered well from the surgical procedures and by 30 months had improved by 2.5 neurologic grades. Ventral inter-central joint fusion was evident by 10 months. Continued vertebral growth occurred in all but the cranial physis of the C7 vertebral body. A ventrally placed LCP provided adequate support for fusion and stability of cervical vertebrae. Use of an LCP applied ventrally offers an alternative to basket use in small or immature horses for fusion of cervical vertebrae.

Palatoschisis totalis and aspiration pneumonia in a three months old warmblood foal

Palatoschisis totalis and aspiration pneumonia in a three months old warmblood foal

The effect of exercise on the distribution and manifestation of osteochondrotic lesions in the Warmblood foal

Osteochondrosis (OC) in the horse has been defined as a disturbance in the process of endochondral ossification which is of multifactorial origin, becoming evident in a large number of joints. Exercise is one of the environmental factors that may influence the clinical manifestation of the disorder, but has never been thoroughly investigated. In this study we investigated the influence of exercise during the first 5 months on the development and distribution of OC lesions in foals of age 5 and 11 months. Forty-three foals, all from sires having OC in either the femoropatellar or tibiotarsal joint, were reared to weaning at 5 months under similar conditions except for the type and amount of exercise. Fifteen foals remained at pasture, 14 were kept in box stalls and 14 foals were kept in the same box stalls but daily given an increasing number of gallop sprints. After weaning, 8 foals from each group were subjected to euthanasia. The remaining 19 animals were given identical light exercise regimen for an additional 6 months to euthanasia at 11 months. After euthanasia all major diarthrodial joints were inspected for macroscopic lesions. Histological sections were made from the lesions and from all distal tibial sagittal ridges. Lesions were scored according to severity on a scale of 0 to 4, and a total OC score per joint was calculated. In the 5 month group, lesions were found in all foals (mean number of lesions 5.5, range 1-14). Frequency was highest in the tibiotarsal (1.9 lesions/foal), the femoropatellar/femorotibial (1.0), the cervical intervertebral (1.0), and the metatarsophalangeal joints (0.6). At 11 months the prevalence of lesions had significantly decreased (mean number of lesions 3.1, range 0-7). This decrease was most evident in the femoropatellar/femorotibial joint, but was negligible in the tibiotarsal joint. Exercise did not significantly influence numbers of lesions, but at 5 months there was a tendency towards more severe lesions in the box-rested foals. In the femoropatellar/femorotibial joint, lesions were found mainly in the femoral condyles of the box-rested foals and at the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur in the trained foals. It is concluded that OC may become manifest in many joints. Many lesions regress and do not become clinically evident, making the number of horses with lesions at mature age into an underestimation of the total amount of animals that have suffered from the condition. The period during which a lesion develops and possibly regresses is limited and variable per site. Exercise at the level given in this study may have some influence on the appearance and the distribution of the lesions, but did not appear to have an aetiological role.