title: Axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament in the hindlimb of Friesian horses: review of 12 cases (2002-2012) and post-mortem analysis of the bone-ligament interface.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament has been described in Friesian horses as well as in other breeds. The objectives of this study were to review the outcome of clinical cases of this disease in Friesian horses and analyse the pathology of the bone-ligament interface. Case records of Friesian horses diagnosed with axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament in the period 2002-2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Post-mortem examination was performed on horses that were euthanized (n = 3) and included macroscopic necropsy (n = 3), high-field (9.4 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1) and histopathology (n = 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve horses were included, aged 6.8 ± 2.7 years. The hindlimb was involved in all cases. Lameness was acute in onset and severe, with a mean duration of 1.9 ± 1.0 months. Three horses were euthanized after diagnosis; 9 horses underwent treatment. Two horses (22%) became sound for light riding purposes, 2 horses (22%) became pasture sound (comfortable at pasture, but not suitable for riding), 5 horses (56%) remained lame. In addition to bone resorption at the proximo-axial margin of the proximal sesamoid bones, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology showed osteoporosis of the peripheral compact bone and spongious bone of the proximal sesamoid bones and chronic inflammation of the intersesamoidean ligament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament in the hindlimb of Friesian horses carries a poor prognosis. Pathological characterization (inflammation, proximo-axial bone resorption and remodelling of the peripheral compact bone and spongious bone of the proximal sesamoid bones) may help in unravelling the aetiology of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P,O, Box 80,163, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The Netherlands. H.Brommer@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brommer
authors.forename: Margreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voermans
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraa
authors.forename: Antoon J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van den Belt
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Toorn
authors.forename: Margreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ploeg
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröne
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Back
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000473:pathology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010000:Osteitis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012716:Sesamoid Bones