Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Subchondral cystic and related lesions affecting the equine pedal bone and stifle.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1982
- Authors:
- Verschooten, F & De Moor, A
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Over eight years, veterinarians examined 29 horses that had cyst-like lesions in either their stifle (the joint in the hind leg) or pedal bone (the bone in the hoof). Out of these cases, 14 had lesions in the stifle, mostly on the femur, while 15 had them in the pedal bone, primarily in the front legs. Most of these horses were lame, meaning they were having trouble walking. The only treatment given was rest, and the outlook for recovery was better for younger horses with stifle lesions but not so good for older ones, while the chances for recovery from pedal bone lesions were uncertain. The researchers believe that trauma is likely the main cause of these lesions.
Abstract
Twenty-nine horses were examined over a period of 8 years and found to have cystic lesions in the stifle (14 cases) or pedal bone (15 cases). The lesions are described and illustrated with radiographs. In the stifle 12 lesions were found on the femoral condyles (11 medially and one laterally) and 10 were typical subchondral cysts. One lesion was observed in the tibia and 3 in the patella. Bone cysts wee found unilaterally in the pedal bone (14 in the forelimbs and one in the hindlimb). All but 2 of the horses with lesions in the stifle or pedal bone were lame. The only treatment was rest. For the stifle lesions, the prognosis was reasonable for young horses but poor for those over 4 years of age; for the pedal bone lesions the prognosis was guarded. Trauma is advanced as the most likely major aetiological factor.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7084178/