Surgical treatment of septic physitis in 17 foals

Abstract

Septic physitis in foals may be treated using surgical curettage in selected cases. Removal of septic material might be expected to expedite resolution of infection, especially important in immunologically challenged neonates, where septic tissue may act as a reservoir for seeding of infection to other sites.

Haematogenous septic arthritis in foals: Short‐ and long‐term outcome and analysis of factors affecting prognosis

“…), and 41 days of foals with septic physitis (Hall et al . ). The higher incidence of physeal infection in older foals coincides with closure of the transphyseal vessels (Firth ).…”

Multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from septic arthritis in horses

“…Septic arthritis is usually caused by bacteria. Pathogens reach the joint via blood, local invasion (traumatic inoculation), or by iatrogenic route, a consequence of local contamination after direct infiltration of a drug into the joint (Colahan et al 2000, Hall et al 2012.…”

“…In its initial course, diagnosis is based on clinical signs, rigorous clinical examination of the affected joints and limbs, and identification of potential risk factors in the anamnesis (recent traumas, intra-articular injections, systemic diseases, and immunosuppression) (Olive et al 2014). Diagnosis is confirmed by arthrocentesis, followed by laboratory analysis of the synovial fluid, microbial culture, in vitro susceptibility test, and imaging tests of the affected joint (Taylor et al 2010, Hall et al 2012. In septic arthritis, the synovial fluid can be turbid, with purulent or hemorrhagic aspect, and may present altered viscosity.…”

“…Different antimicrobial drugs are used to treat septic arthritis, as monotherapy or in association, via intra-articular and/or parenteral injection (Haerdi-Landerer et al 2010, Beccati et al 2015, including b-lactams, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, rapamycin, and amphenicols (Morton 2005, Giguère et al 2010, Hall et al 2012. Broad spectrum antimicrobials and those that reach high intra-articular concentrations should be preferred (Schneider et al 2002, Haerdi-Landerer et al 2010.…”

In this issue – December 2012

“…Results suggest that surgical curettage of septic lesions can be a useful adjunct to medical treatment in selective cases of septic physitis in foals …”