Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bilateral tibial metaphyseal stress fractures associated with physitis in a foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1994
- Authors:
- Frankeny, R L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 7-month-old Appaloosa foal was having trouble walking and couldn't get up without help. The foal showed signs of pain and swelling in the back legs, especially when the vet checked the area around the lower leg bones. X-rays showed that part of the bone was larger than normal and had some cracks. The vet recommended rest and changes to the foal's diet, which helped at first, but the lameness came back when the foal was 14 months old. After another 7 months of resting in a pasture without exercise, the foal was reported to be back to normal.
Abstract
A 7-month-old Appaloosa foal had bilateral hind limb lameness and was unable to rise from recumbency without assistance. Lameness could be exacerbated by tarsal flexion and a firm swelling at the distomedial aspect of the tibias was associated with a marked pain response when palpated. Radiography revealed enlargement of the distal tibial metaphysis physis (compared with normal), and radiolucent fissure lines extending proximally from the physis into the metaphysis at its medial aspect. Treatment included rest and dietary adjustment. Although clinical signs initially resolved following treatment, the problem recurred when the foal was 14 months old. Further treatment included 7 months of pasture rest without forced exercise, after which the foal was reported to be clinically normal.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7928554/