When a diagnosis of septic pedal osteitis was made, the horse was referred to the large animal clinic at a nearby university for surgical debridement of infected bone and soft tissues. After an eight-month convalescence, he returned to normal athletic functioning. Pedal osteitis is defined as an inflammatory disorder of the coffin bone that is characterized by either diffuse or focal radiolucent changes and new bone formation. The disorder is a result of persistent inflammation in the foot. The disorder is more commonly seen in front limbs since 60 percent of the horse's weight is distributed there, but it can affect the hind feet as well.
Involvement can be unilateral or bilateral depending on the cause.
Causes of the entity are varied - it can occur as a primary or secondary condition. Treatment is often aimed at correcting the underlying condition that caused its development. Primary nonseptic pedal osteitis typically results from severe or chronic sole bruising sustained from repeated concussion during exercise on hard surfaces. Secondary nonseptic pedal osteitis can be the result of conformation faults or improper farrier work that have caused uneven weight bearing on the sole. Hoof testers elicit positive responses between the sole and wall in diffuse or localized areas.