The Normal and Abnormal Equine Neonatal Musculoskeletal System.

The first weeks of life are critical in many aspects, and the musculoskeletal system is no exception. Being able to stand and nurse within hours of life is necessary for survival. Laxity, flexural deformities, and skeletal immaturity can all make it difficult for neonates to ambulate. The increased vascularity to bones and cartilage mixed with the newly forming immune system also make neonates susceptible to infections that we rarely see in adult animals. This article concentrates on orthopedic conditions seen in the first 2 weeks of life.

Long-term athletic performance in sport horses after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon.

BACKGROUND: Outcome after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) to treat flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint has been reported to be excellent. However, no studies have compared long-term athletic performance of sport horses exposed to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT to that of matched controls. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to compare long-term athletic performance in sports horses subjected to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT with the performance of matched controls. STUDY DESIGN: This is an observational multicentre retrospective matched cohort study. METHODS: Records from horses undergoing desmotomy of the AL-DDFT between 2004 and 2015 were reviewed. Various databases were used to identify age-matched siblings as unexposed controls and data on the horses' athletic careers. RESULTS: Seventy-four exposed and 194 matched unexposed horses were included. Although not significantly different, the proportion of exposed horses entering competition (28%, 95% CI 16%-38%) had a substantial risk difference compared with the proportion of unexposed horses entering competition (38%, 95% CI 26%-44%) (P = .2). Career longevity was significantly better for unexposed (15.6 competitions [95% CI 10.7-22.5] over a median of 570 days [IQR 210-1340]) than for exposed horses (9.7 competitions [95% CI 6.4-14.6] over a median of 219 days [IQR 2-1159] for horses operated in one limb and 6.1 competitions [95% CI 3.6-9.9] over a median of 446 days [IQR 23-603 days] for horses operated in two limbs, P < .001). Age at surgery and whether the condition was unilateral or bilateral did not affect chance of competing. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, varying quality of medical records, stage of contraction not noted in many records and missing information on reasons for not entering into competition. CONCLUSIONS: Desmotomy of the AL-DDFT is associated with decreased long-term athletic performance in sport horses compared with matched unexposed horses.

[Congenital flexural deformity in 93 calves - appearance, treatment techniques and results of pedigree analysis]. / Sehnenstelzfuß bei 93 Kälbern ­ Erscheinungsformen, Behandlungs­methoden und Ergebnis einer Pedigreeanalyse.

INTRODUCTION: Contracture of the flexor tendons (CFT) is very common in calves and it is usually diagnosed within the first few days after birth (congenital flexural deformity). However, CFT can appear even in older calves caused by chronic pain. The aetiology of CFT is still unknown. In this study, the distribution of sex, age, breed, the severity of flexural deformity, concurrent presence of other diseases, applied treatment methods for flexural deformity, and the outcome of calves with CFT, which were examined at the University Clinic for Ruminants in Vienna from 2001 to 2016, were evaluated retrospectively. 93 calves were admitted with CFT in the observation period. 70 (75.3%) calves were male and 78 (83.9%) of the affected animals were Simmental calves. The age of calves with CFT varied from one day to 41 days. Twenty-six calves suffered exclusively from CFT, and CFT was diagnosed as an additional finding in 67 calves. 91 animals (97.8%) showed CFT on the front limbs, 79 of them (84.9%) on both front limbs. The distribution of the severity scores was as follows: 69 calves (74.2%) had score 1, 17 calves (18.3%) had score 2, three calves (3.2%) had score 3. Three additional calves (3.2%) had a score 1 CFT on one front limb and a score 2 CFT on the other front limb, and one additional calf showed all three scores on both front limbs and one hind limb. 69 patients (74.2%) could be discharged with a significant improvement in CFT after treatment and 24 calves (25.8%) had to be euthanized due to other severe diseases. The results of the applied pedigree analysis do not show that a single gene mutation is the cause for the development of CFT, but rather a complex hereditary pattern has to be assumed. Depending on the severity of CFT and the presence of other concurrent diseases, an early and consistent therapy has to be carried out to achieve the highest possible success. Since animals with CFT are usually restricted in their movement, sufficient colostrum intake must be ensured within the first hours of life.

INTRODUCTION: La contracture des tendons fléchisseurs (CTF) est très fréquente chez les veaux et elle est généralement diagnostiquée dans les premiers jours suivant la naissance (malformation congénitale en flexion). Cependant, la CTF peut apparaître même chez les veaux plus âgés en raison d'une douleur chronique. L'étiologie de la CTF est encore inconnue. Dans cette étude, la répartition du sexe, de l'âge, de la race, la sévérité de la déformation en flexion, la présence concomitante d'autres maladies, les méthodes de traitement appliquées pour la déformation en flexion et les résultats chez les veaux atteints de CTF, examinés à la Clinique universitaire des ruminants de Vienne de 2001 à 2016, ont été évalués rétrospectivement. 93 veaux ont été admis avec une CTF au cours de la période d'observation. 70 veaux (75,3%) étaient des mâles et 78 (83,9%) des animaux atteints étaient des veaux Simmental. L'âge des veaux atteints de CTF variait d'un jour à 41 jours. Vingt-six veaux ont souffert exclusivement de CTF et une CTF a été diagnostiquée comme une découverte supplémentaire chez 67 veaux. 91 animaux (97,8%) présentaient une CTF sur les membres antérieurs, dont 79 (84,9%) sur les deux membres antérieurs. La répartition des scores de gravité était la suivante: 69 veaux (74,2%) ont obtenu un score de 1, 17 veaux (18,3%) ont obtenu un score de 2, trois veaux (3,2%) ont obtenu un score de 3. Trois autres veaux (3,2%) ont obtenu un score 1 CTF sur un membre antérieur et un score de 2 CTF sur l'autre membre antérieur et un veau présentait les trois scores sur les deux membres antérieurs et un membre postérieur. 69 patients (74,2%) ont pu quitter l'hôpital avec une amélioration significative de la CTF après le traitement et 24 veaux (25,8%) ont dû être euthanasiés en raison d'autres maladies graves. Les résultats de l'analyse du pedigree ne montrent pas qu'une seule mutation du gène soit la cause du développement de la CTF, mais plutôt qu'un schéma héréditaire complexe doit être supposé. En fonction de la gravité de la CTF et de la présence d'autres maladies concomitantes, un traitement précoce et cohérent doit être mis en œuvre pour obtenir le meilleur succès possible. Comme les mouvements des animaux atteints de CTF sont généralement limités, un apport suffisant de colostrum doit être garanti dès les premières heures de la vie.