Appendicular osteomyelitis in horses: Etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis

Osteomyelitis can be caused by trauma in horses of any age or may have a he matogenous origin in foals. Diagnosis of this disease is based on clinical signs, radiographic changes, and laboratory values of protein and inflammat ory cells, especially neutrophils. Clinical signs of inflammation may inclu de edema, joint effusion, fever, and pain. Lameness is a variable clinical sign depending on the structures involved in the infection. Radiographic ch anges are usually diagnostic, but the use of advanced imaging modalities, i f available, may also be of significant value.