Intraosseous regional perfusion for treatment of septic physitis in a two-week-old foal.

ABSTRACT

A 2-week-old Morgan filly examined because of lameness of 5 days' duration was found, on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, to have septic physitis of the distal end of the radius. The foal was treated by means of intraosseous regional perfusion with penicillin and amikacin and systemic administration of antimicrobials. Intraosseous regional perfusion was performed 3 times. The foal was anesthetized for the first episode of intraosseous regional perfusion, but was only sedated for the subsequent 2 episodes. Antimicrobials were administered systemically for 22 days. Foals with septic physitis are typically considered to have a guarded to poor prognosis for recovery; however, this treatment regimen resulted in relatively fast and uncomplicated resolution of the infection in this foal.