
02/01/2025
This week’s diagnose-a-case answer is...
C) Left medial femoral condyle cyst
This was a classic case of a developmental issue common in growing horses. Scientists are still uncertain about the exact cause of bone cyst development, but it is believed that genetic factors, trauma, nutrition, and environmental influences may play a role. In this case, the cyst had formed in the area where the femoral condyle meets the joint surface, which led to an accumulation of fluid and resulted in the lameness we were seeing. Did you know that subchondral cystic lesions can be on a scale from 1 to 6? This one would be considered a grade 4.
For this particular case, surgery was performed. The procedure involved the placement of a resorbable implant to address the lesion. The filly recovered well after the procedure, and a follow-up radiographic examination is scheduled for four weeks post-surgery.