SAEVA Proceedings 2016 | Page 235

  Abscesses Foals can develop quite severe foot abscessation, more commonly in the hind limbs. Most cases are believed to result from subsolar haematoma formation during the first few days of life on the soft soles. These are typically very painful, resulting in nonweight-bearing lameness. Paring away defective sole to create drainage of pus from the normally extensive subsolar cavity is curative. There is often a small sequestrum of P3 involved that will either be expelled from the drainage hole or in some instances will have to be curetted out surgically. Protection of the new soft developing sole by gradual removal of the old sole over time and a light foot bandage is important to prevent recurrence. The proximal sesamoid bones There is a high incidence of PSB fracture in foals which usually results from excessive strain across the suspensory apparatus, caused by keeping up with the mare running or excessive boisterous behaviour in the paddock. More commonly they are apical or basilar fractures, but all configurations including mid-body, sagittal and comminuted fractures may occur. They may be uniaxial, bilateral or biaxial with a worsening prognosis in that order. Lameness resulting from these fractures ranges from barely detectable with a little pain on the turn to non-weight-bearing. Severity of lameness usually corresponds to the fracture configuration and disruption of the suspensory apparatus. Clinically the fetlock region is normally mildly swollen, with or without fetlock joint effusion. Most PSB fractures respond very well to conservative management of stable confinement for four to eight weeks and anti-inflammatories with anti-ulcer medication initially. Although initial bandaging may help with acute swelling, prolonged support bandages or splinting are contraindicated to prevent flexor laxity. Gradual turn out into larger paddocks after the initial confined period is recommended to prevent reinjury. Prognosis for most fractures is fair to good for athletic function; sometimes the fragments unite in an elongated fashion to form a megasesamoid which may have a negative impact on sales radiographs. Biaxial mid-body fractures result in complete failure of the suspensory apparatus and salvage procedures for stud value, such as wiring the PSBs or fetlock arthrodesis, are options. Physeal fractures Physeal fractures are relatively common in foals due to the discrepancy in strength between the stronger diaphyseal bone and weaker physeal bone. Clinical presentations vary considerably and correlate to the extent of displacement and stability of the fracture. Foals may be weight bearing on non-displaced stable fractures with mild lameness and pain on palpation or manipulation being the only symptoms to three-legged lame with angular deviations of the limb distal to a displaced fracture. Proceedings  of  the  South  African  Equine  Veterinary  Association  Congress  2016   234