Treatment of a keratoma in a Clydesdale horse.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Treatment of a Keratoma in a Clydesdale Horse Keratomas—benign intraosseous tumours of the distal phalanx—present a diagnostic challenge when they manifest as recurrent purulent discharge from the foot, often mimicking infectious conditions and leading to repeated unsuccessful treatments. Chan and Munroe describe a surgical approach to this condition in a six-year-old Clydesdale gelding, using an inverted V-shaped dorsal wall resection extending up to 2 cm distal to the coronary band to gain adequate access for complete tumour excision. Following surgery, the horse received standard post-operative management including bandaging, corrective shoeing, systemic antibiotics and phenylbutazone, with notably complete regeneration of the dorsal hoof wall and successful return to full work. This case demonstrates that keratomas can be definitively treated via direct surgical removal rather than accepting functional compromise, and highlights the importance of considering this differential diagnosis in draft horses presenting with chronic foot pathology unresponsive to standard farriery and medical interventions. The surgical technique and post-operative outcomes described offer a practical framework for practitioners managing similar cases, particularly given the value of large animals where limb salvage justifies more invasive approaches.

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Key Findings

• •Keratoma was successfully diagnosed in a 6-year-old Clydesdale gelding presenting with recurrent pus in the foot
• •Inverted V-shaped dorsal wall hoof resection to 2 cm distal to the coronary band allowed complete keratoma excision
• •Dorsal hoof wall regrew completely following surgical treatment with appropriate post-operative care including bandaging, shoeing, antibiotics and phenylbutazone
• •Horse returned to full work following keratoma treatment

Conditions Studied