A Case of New Surgical Correction of Angular Limb Deformities Using One Screw Implant & Periosteal Transection in a Thoroughbred Foal

Angular limb deformities (ALD) are common in foals. A 30-days-old Thoroughbred foal was presented for the evaluation of severe ALD of the both forelimbs. On radiographic examination, both distal radiuses were diagnosed as valgus angular limb deformities. But the degree of deviation of right forelimb was so severe that we tried to correct one after the other. We tried new surgical correction method combination of one screw implant on medial aspect for growth retardation and periosteal transection on lateral aspect of the right forelimb. 40 days later, successfully corrected and then removed the screw. After the right forelimb correction, the periosteal transection on left forelimb was performed. We did the inhalation anesthesia using isoflurane. There were no complications such as fibrosis over the screw heads, and overcorrection that produces an opposing deformity identified. These results suggest that combination of one screw implant and periosteal transection technique is able to be a safe and effective method to correct severe ALD in the foal.