Meniscal disruption associated with septic arthritis in three neonatal foals

The objective of this study was to report clinical characteristics, surgical management and medium-term (6-12 months) outcomes of three Arabian neonatal foals with meniscal disruption associated with septic arthritis of the lateral femorotibial joint. The three neonatal Arabian foals with septic arthritis of the lateral femorotibial joint (LFTJ), were diagnosed with disruption of the lateral meniscal (LM). Suspicion of meniscal pathology was based on ultrasonography, computed tomography (in 2 foals) and confirmed during arthroscopy. Treatment included arthroscopic debridement and lavage of the joint with debridement of the meniscal disruption. 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. Marked LM disruption was 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 euthanised 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 timepoints. It was concluded that meniscal disruption and infection should be considered as a differential in neonatal foals with persistent femorotibial septic arthritis. In such cases, the LM could be the primary nidus of infection.