Abstract
Objective: To report clinical characteristics, surgical
management, and medium-term outcomes of 3 Arabian neonatal foals with
meniscal disruption associated with septic arthritis of the lateral
femorotibial joint.
Methods: Three neonatal Arabian foals with septic arthritis of
the lateral femorotibial joint (LFTJ), were diagnosed with lateral
meniscal (LM) tears, based on persistent lameness despite improving
synovial parameters, ultrasound (US) findings (protrusion of meniscal
tissue beyond the level of the condyles, with hypoechoic regions),
contrast Computed Tomography findings, and confirmed on arthroscopy.
Treatment included arthroscopic debridement and lavage of the joint with
debridement of the meniscal tear. Postoperative care included systemic
and intra-articular antimicrobials, based on culture and sensitivity
results. Two of the foals received intra-articular injections of
autologous mesenchymal stem cells.
Results: Grade III meniscal tears were observed in the LFTJ of
the affected joints of all foals, involving the meniscal body (n=3) and
caudal horn (n=1). Purulent material within the torn tissue, was
debrided with a synovial resector. Foal 1 was lame-free as a yearling.
Foal 2 was lame at walk at 7.5 months and euthanatized due to poor
prognosis. Foal 3 showed mild lameness at trot in a straight line at 6
months. Disruption of the LM continued to be visible on US in both foals
at these time-points.
Conclusion: Meniscal disruption and infection should be
considered a differential in neonatal foals with persistent femorotibial
septic arthritis. In such cases, the LM could be the primary nidus of
infection.