The Surgeon's Role

Angular limb deformity

Periosteal elevation
Broadly speaking, this needs to be considered by 3 weeks with fetlocks, 3 months with carpi, and 4 months with hocks. Obviously, with more severe deviations, the sooner, the better. Its use is controversial, although I often use it for mild deformity of other joints during transphyseal bridge surgery.

Screws and wire
Because of the need for 2 screws and a wire, this procedure leaves a large cosmetic blemish, and is technically more demanding. It has been superseded in most clinical situations by transphyseal screws. I use them very rarely, in very young foals with severe deviations, where sometimes the epiphysis is too soft to hold a trans-physeal screw. [...]