Bone

Vertebral body osteomyelitis in the cervical spine secondary to Rhodococcus equi has been treated both medically and surgically. This Case Report describes a 4-month-old foal exhibiting severe neurological signs from R. equi vertebral body osteomyelitis. Rapid, significant resolvement of neurological signs was noted in this case with surgical debridement and use of synthetic bone filler. The outcome suggests that aggressive surgical therapy in conjunction with synthetic allograft may be indicated in treatment of cervical vertebral body osteomyelitis.

We report the use of low-field standing magnetic resonance imaging in the standing horse for the diagnosis of osseous lesions in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that were not apparent using standard radiography. Thirteen horses were studied and all had thickening of the subchondral bone plate and abnormal signal intensity in the adjacent spongiosa in either the condyles of metacarpal/metatarsal III or the proximal phalanx or both.

Objective—To characterize the microstructure of subchondral bone (SCB) plate and trabecular bone (TBB) of the distopalmar aspect of the condyles of third metacarpal bones (MC3s) from Thoroughbred racehorses at 2 different stages of SCB disease via micro–computed tomography (CT). Sample Population—12 pairs of MC3s from Thoroughbred racehorses euthanized for various reasons. Procedures—MC3s were collected from horses with mild (n = 6) or severe (6) SCB disease, as determined via micro-CT.

ABSTRACT
Objective—To compare the efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)/calcium phosphate (CP) to autogenous cancellous bone graft (CBG) and to no treatment on bone healing, in surgically induced osteotomies and ostectomies of the accessory metatarsal bones in an equine model.

Study Design—Experimental.

Animals—Adult horses (n=9).