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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2773-7734
Original Research

Septic Synovitis and Osteomyelitis in Foals: Current Situation in a French Referral Hospital and Value of Computed Tomography for Diagnosis and Treatment

Authors

  • Mickaël P. Robert 

    1   Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot-Pays-d'Auge, France

  • Camille Buyck

    1   Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot-Pays-d'Auge, France

  • Matthieu Cousty

    1   Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot-Pays-d'Auge, France

  • Fleur Couturier

    1   Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot-Pays-d'Auge, France

  • Cyril Tricaud

    1   Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Equin de Livet, Livarot-Pays-d'Auge, France
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Abstract

Objective

To describe cases of septic synovitis and osteomyelitis in foals younger than 6 months presented to a single hospital and their management and to report the value of computed tomography in diagnosis and management of these cases.

Study Design

This is a retrospective descriptive study.

Results

Sixty-five foals were included in this study. Forty-six foals (71%) survived to discharge. The presence of osteomyelitis (p = 0.16), umbilical infection (p = 0.41), or infection with Rhodococcus equi (p = 1) did not significantly influence survival. However, risk of nonsurvival was significantly increased if multiple sites were infected (p = 0.007; odds ratio [OR] = 5.80) or when bony lesions were present on admission radiographs (p = 0.03; OR = 3.47). A large proportion of the foals in this study had osteomyelitis (66%; 43/65). Computed tomography use was not significantly associated with survival (p = 0.27) but allowed identification of osteomyelitis lesions in 16 out of 43 cases (37.2%) where radiological findings were unremarkable.

Conclusion

This study reports a high frequency of osteomyelitis in foals in multiple different regions of the skeleton, with or without associated synovial sepsis. The prognosis, defined as survival to discharge, for these orthopaedic infections is positive, especially if only one location is affected. Computed tomography scan allows an early diagnosis as well as detection of radiographically silent lesions and is an interesting tool in targeted treatments of these foals. Gram-positive bacterial infections were overrepresented in this study, suggesting some similarities with human paediatric orthopaedic infections.

Keywords

septic synovitis - osteomyelitis - computed tomography - sepsis - foals

Contributors' Statement

M.P.R. and C.T. contributed to the conception of this work; M.P.R., F.C., and C.B. contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; all co-authors were involved in case management; all co-authors contributed to drafting and revising the manuscript; all co-authors gave their approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 08 May 2025

Accepted: 16 December 2025

Article published online:
30 December 2025

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