Diagnosis and Treatment of Limb Deformities in Foals

Limb deformities in foals can be subdivided into two major groups: 1) angular limb deformities, in which there is deviation, primarily in the frontal plane, originating at a joint and/or growth plate; and 2) flexural limb deformities, in which there is persistent hyperflexion or hyperextension of the limb. These conditions are generally categorized under the umbrella term of developmental orthopedic diseases, which also includes physitis, incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones, osteochondrosis dissecans, and subchondral bone cysts. Both angular and flexural deformities may be congenital or acquired, and their etiology is likely multifactorial. Regardless of the underlying cause, however, early appropriate intervention is the key to the best outcome in these cases.