Successful treatment of a severely contaminated open metatarsophalangeal joint luxation by arthrodesis. (18th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haspeslagh, M.; Schauvliege, S.; Martens, A.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary education. Volume 34:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: e78
• Page End: e82
• Publication Date: 2021-08-18
• Subjects: horse -- arthrodesis -- fetlock -- luxation -- salvage; Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Horses -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/eve.13540
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-7734

Abstract

Summary: A horse with an open medial luxation of the left metatarsophalangeal joint with extensive cartilage and soft tissue damage and severe contamination of the wound was treated with a two‐stage approach. In the first stage, the lesion was cleaned, the luxation was reduced, the wound was sutured and the limb was kept in a cast for a total time of 56 days. In the second stage, an arthrodesis of the affected joint was carried out, using a 13‐hole broad 4.5 LCP plate. The limb was then kept in a cast for an additional total time of 56 days. At 70 days after the arthrodesis, the horse was brought in for a final check‐up, and only a mechanical lameness remained at that time. No significant complications occurred. Previous case reports on the treatment of metatarso‐/metacarpophalangeal luxations include neither cases as severe as the one presented here nor treatment by fetlock arthrodesis. This case illustrates that horses with a complicated, open luxation of the fetlock can be salvaged for breeding purposes.