The use of digital venography in the diagnosis and localisation of a subsolar abscess

Abstract

An 18-year-old Standardbred mare that presented with clinical signs consistent with a subsolar foot abscess in the right hindlimb. Standard foot radiographs were unremarkable. Digital venography of the hoof demonstrated a significant lack of contrast filling in the terminal papilla, circumflex vessel and solar vessels in the region of the medial toe. Findings from the venogram were used to locate the abscess tract and establish drainage. Approximately 3 h after establishing drainage of the subsolar abscess, a second digital venogram was performed. This subsequent venogram revealed near complete resolution of the previously described contrast filling defects. The only deficit noted was a slight decrease in the filling of the terminal papilla in a small area at the medial toe. This case demonstrates the utility of digital venography as a simple, accessible imaging modality available to the field practitioner, providing more accurate lesion identification and localisation, resulting in faster resolution of a subsolar abscess.