USE OF AUTOGENOUS CANCELLOUS BONE-GRAFTING IN THE TREATMENT OF SEPTICNAVICULAR BURSITIS AND DISTAL SESAMOID OSTEOMYELITIS IN HORSES

Six horses with septic navicular bursitis or distal sesamoid osteomyel itis were treated by means of surgical debridement and lavage, followe d by packing of the wound created in the bottom of the foot with an au togenous cancellous bone graft. Two horses were euthanatized, one 18 m onths alter surgery because of complications in the contralateral supp ort limb, and one 68 days after surgery because of continuing severe l ameness. Four horses were alive 9, 16, 21, and 42 months after surgery . One horse was used as a broodmare and did not have observable lamene ss. Two horses were being ridden. The remaining horse had improved mar kedly, but was still lame. It appears that cancellous bone grafts can be used successfully, in conjunction with debridement and antimicrobia l treatment, in horses with septic navicular bursitis and distal sesam oid osteomyelitis.