Intra-articular injection in horses involves the administration of therapeutic agents directly into a joint space. This technique is used to manage joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, by delivering medications like corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, or biologic therapies directly to the affected area. The procedure aims to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and improve joint function. Intra-articular injections are commonly performed under sterile conditions to minimize the risk of infection. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, efficacy, and safety of intra-articular injections in equine medicine, as well as their impact on joint health and performance in horses.
Miller SM, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Zarucco LA.A technique was developed for arthrocentesis of the palmaroproximal pouch of the pastern joint. The landmark for percutaneous puncture is a 'V' shaped depression formed by the palmar aspect of the proximal phalanx (P1) dorsally, an eminence associated with the attachment of the collateral ligaments to P1 and the middle phalanx distally and the insertion of the lateral branch of the superficial digital flexor tendon palmarodistally. Comparison of arthrocentesis between the palmaroproximal approach and the traditional dorsal approach in 8 cadavers and 8 horses demonstrated that the palmaroproxim...
Trotter GW, McIlwraith CW.Surgical procedures completed under arthroscopic guidance have become commonplace in many equine practices and have largely replaced surgery using arthrotomy incisions. With a limited amount of equipment, numerous diagnostic and surgical procedures can be completed. Surgeons need to become familiar with regional and intraarticular (intrasynovial) anatomy to ensure that proper surgical approaches are used, access to the lesion will be realized, and potential complications will be minimized. Specialized motorized instruments and surgical lasers are now available and may be useful in the treatmen...
Todhunter PG, Kincaid SA, Todhunter RJ, Kammermann JR, Johnstone B, Baird AN, Hanson RR, Wright JM, Lin HC, Purohit RC.To use lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to create synovitis in the midcarpal joint of ponies, and to assess the morphologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical effects of synovitis on articular cartilage of the third carpal bone. Methods: 2- to 3-year-old ponies, 6 control (group 1) and 6 treated (group 2). Methods: Synovitis was induced in 1 midcarpal joint of group-2 ponies by intra-articular injections of LPS (0.02 micrograms/kg of body weight), morphine (0.1 mg/kg), and saline solution (group 2a) and a morphine and saline solution alone in the contralateral midcarpal joint (group 2b). Articula...
Kirberger RM, Gottschalk RD, Guthrie AJ.Twelve horses were injected intra-articularly into the metacarpophalangeal joint and extra-articularly in the region of the lateral palmar digital nerve with 1 ml air and local anaesthetic to simulate gas accidentally introduced during regional anaesthesia. Half the horses underwent limited exercise after which all horses were radiographed at 15 and 45 min and then every 24 h until all evidence of gas had disappeared. Intra-articular gas appeared as gas capped radiolucencies (GCR) in the proximal aspect of the joint. Extra-articular gas appeared as linear radiolucencies (LR) which initially te...
Carter BG, Bertone AL, Weisbrode SE, Bailey MQ, Andrews JM, Palmer JL.To evaluate joint function and healing of surgically created full-thickness articular cartilage defects in exercised horses after intra-articular administration of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA; 120 mg) and sterile saline solution in the contralateral limb. Methods: Experimental investigation. Methods: 12 healthy, sound, radiographically normal horses with induced full-thickness osteochondral lesions on the medial and lateral trochlear ridges of the tali. Methods: Two 8.4-mm-diameter full-thickness articular cartilage lesions were created in each tarsocrural joint (12 horses [24 tarsocrural ...
Tulamo RM, Raekallio M, Taylor P, Johnson CB, Salonen M.Both morphine and physiologic saline injected intra-articularly into healthy equine tarsocrural joints induced a release of large molecular size proteoglycan (PG) subunits into the synovial fluid (SF) analysed 24 h postinjection. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a size-exclusion column was used to assess the high molecular weight proteoglycans in equine synovial fluid (SF). The PG peaks of SF samples eluated separately from SF hyaluronate and other molecular components of the SF in the HPLC chromatographies indicating no interaction between hyaluronate and PG in the SF. Indiv...
Hardy J, Bertone AL, Muir WW.We measured regional blood flow in synovial tissue of the antebrachiocarpal, midcarpal, and metacarpophalangeal joints of six normal adult anesthetized horses by using 15-microns-diameter polystyrene colored microspheres. The midcarpal fibrous capsule and synovial membrane blood flows (SMBF) were compared, and the effect of increased intra-articular pressure (30 and 60 mmHg) on midcarpal SMBF was investigated. Dorsal, medial palmar, and lateral palmar midcarpal SMBF measured 108 +/- 36, 61 +/- 12, and 50 +/- 11 microliters.min-1.g-1, respectively. Antebrachiocarpal, dorsal, and palmar metacarp...
Lillich JD, Bertone AL, Schmall LM, Ruggles AJ, Sams RA.OBJECTIVE--To document plasma, urine, and synovial fluid disposition of 2 common intra-articularly administered steroid preparations, methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and isoflupredone acetate (IPA). DESIGN--Descriptive investigation. SAMPLE POPULATION--100 mg of MPA or 4 mg of IPA was administered to 2 groups of 4 healthy sound radiographically normal female horses. PROCEDURE--Blood samples were collected at time 0 (before) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours after administration of the designated steroid. Complete urine collection for measurement of designated steroid was ac...
Gastal EL, Kot K, Ginther OJ.A technique for intrafollicular treatment with a transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection needle was developed using equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) as the test substance. An injection was made into one growing follicle of a wave when the follicles were 20 to 23 mm. The treated follicles were injected with 1000 iu of eCG in 0.2 ml saline solution and control follicles were injected with 0.2 ml of the saline vehicle (10 mares per group, 1 follicle per mare). The injection system used an inner 25-gauge needle and an outer 20-gauge needle inserted together through the needle-guide channel of ...
Strand E, Martin GS, Crawford MP, Kamerling SG, Burba DJ, Kearney MT.A study was done to determine whether intra-articular pressure is increased in equine metacarpophalangeal joints with increasing degrees of synovial distention, and to correlate elastance of the soft tissue forming the dorsal pouch of the metacarpophalangeal joint to maximal range of motion in flexion. Sixty seven metacarpophalangeal joints in 36 horses were categorized by palpation and visual inspection of the palmar pouch into 1 of 4 increasing grades of distention. Intra-articular pressures were then measured, using 2 pressure transducers attached to 22 gauge needles, from the dorsal and pa...
Hawkins DL, Cargile JL, MacKay RJ, Broome TA, Skelley LA.Six horses received intra-articular injections of a mixture of 1 micrograms of endotoxin/5 mg of equine tumor necrosis factor (eqTNF) monoclonal antibody in 1 antebrachiocarpal joint and an equal volume (2 ml) of 1 micrograms of endotoxin/5 mg of control antibody in the opposite joint. Synovial fluid sample collection (1 ml) was accomplished by use of an indwelling, intra-articular catheter at postinjection hours (PIH) 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 5, and 8, and by arthrocentesis at PIH 24. Joint fluid samples were analyzed for nucleated cell count, protein concentration, and TNF, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1, ...
Geor R, Hope E, Lauper L, Piela S, Klassen J, King V, Murphy M.The effects of dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg of body weight; IV, IM, and PO) and methylprednisolone acetate (120 mg given intra-articularly) on serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were studied in 6 horses. Serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were serially monitored after each treatment. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations was observed from 12 to 24 and 2 to 48 hours, respectively, after IV and IM administrations of dexamethasone. Serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were significantly decreased from 6 to 48 and 3 to 72 h...
Koupai-Abyazani MR, Yu N, Esaw B, Laviolette B.Urine and serum samples collected from four standard-bred mares after 30-mg intraarticular administrations of triamcinolone acetonide were analyzed using combined high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry. Maximum triamcinolone acetonide concentrations of 32.3, 14.8, 24.3, and 29.4 ng/mL in the urine and 2.7, 1.9, 2.3, and 2.5 ng/mL in the serum samples were observed. The peak concentrations of the drug were detected approximately 22 h (urine) and 12 h (serum) after administration. The drug elimination profiles for both urine and serum are present...
Sammut EB, Kannegieter NJ.Intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) was investigated as an agent for chemical arthrodesis of the distal hock joints in the horse. Five horses diagnosed with either spavin (three horses), a small tarsal bone fracture or a failed surgical arthrodesis, had 150 mg of MIA injected into the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint of the affected hock(s). Eight joints were treated in the five horses. Follow-up evaluation by clinical and radiological examination took place over 9 to 14 months. Two of the five horses were sound at the conclusion of the study and one horse, although lame after...
Palmer JL, Bertone AL.The use of extremely small dosages of intra-articular E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin can create a model of synovitis that mimics acute synovitis in horses. Dosages of 5000 ng, 25 ng, 0.5 ng, 0.25 ng, 0.17 ng and 0.125 ng per joint were injected into various joints of a total of 6 horses. The dose response of LPS on clinical signs and synovial fluid parameters was evaluated at baseline and 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after LPS injection. Peripheral venous blood analysis was performed at baseline and at 0, 4, and 12 h after LPS injection. Dosages greater than 0.5 ng/joint resulted in clinica...
Hendrickson DA, Nixon AJ.The genual joint in horses is complex, making synovial fluid aspiration and injection of the femoropatellar joint difficult. Horses commonly have signs of resentment to needle penetration at this site. We compared the safety and efficacy of a new technique, using a lateral approach to the femoropatellar joint, with that of the standard cranial approach in 12 horses. A significantly greater amount of fluid was obtained with the lateral approach (2.0 +/- 0.5 ml, mean +/- SEM) than with the cranial approach (0.9 +/- 0.2 ml). Significant differences were not observed in color, nucleated cell count...
Foland JW, McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW, Powers BE, Lamar CH.Osteochondral fragments were created arthroscopically on the distal aspect of both radial carpal bones in 12 horses. On day 14 after surgery, one middle carpal joint of each horse was injected with 2.5 mL Betavet Soluspan (3.9 mg betamethasone sodium phosphate and 12 mg betamethasone acetate per milliliter) and the contralateral joint was injected with 2.5 mL saline as a control. Intra-articular treatments were repeated on day 35. On day 17, six horses began exercising 5 days per week on a high-speed treadmill. The other six horses were kept in box stalls throughout the study as nonexercised c...
McCarthy PH.A description is given of 75 features present in the normal tarsus of the standing horse which are apparent due to visible skin contours overlying them. Depending on whether or not the pelvic limb is supporting full weight or resting, some contours alter their configuration. Therefore the contour of each underlying feature is described separately for each stance of the limb. It is considered that visual inspection and identification of the apparent superficial features of the normal equine tarsus form the basis of orientation and clinical inspection. Furthermore, these features provide referen...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Meagher DM, Thurmond MC.Surface oximetry was used to evaluate viability of the ascending colon in 60 horses with naturally occurring colonic volvulus or displacement. Tissue surface oxygen tension (PsO2) was measured on the serosal surface of the pelvic flexure after anatomic correction of the colonic obstruction. Horses with PsO2 > 20 mm of Hg were predicted to have viable colon; whereas, horses with PsO2 < or = 20 mm of Hg were predicted to have nonviable colon. Results of surface oximetry were compared with final outcome. For surface oximetry, sensitivity (ability to accurately identify colon that was nonvia...
Zamos DT, Honnas CM, Hoffman AG.Arthroscopic examination of structures within the plantar pouch of the tarsocrural joint was accomplished via portals in both the plantaromedial and plantarolateral aspects of the joint. Flexion and extension of the tarsus while examining the joint through either portal allowed observation of the proximal and plantar aspects of the lateral and medial trochlear ridges, the trochlear groove, the caudal aspect of the distal tibia, and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in its sheath. From a plantarolateral portal, the plantar talocalcaneal ligament and the plantar aspect of the lateral malleol...
Dyson S.Proximal suspensory desmitis of the hindlimb was diagnosed using local analgesic techniques and ultrasonography in 42 horses. Subtarsal analgesia resulted in substantial improvement in lameness in 36 of 41 horses in which local analgesic techniques were used. In the remaining five horses lameness was improved by perineural analgesia of the tibial nerve (three) or the tibial and fibular nerves. Intra-articular analgesia of the tarso-metatarsal joint produced a similar degree of improvement in two of 24 horses in which lameness had been improved by subtarsal analgesia. Ultrasonographic abnormali...
Aviad AD, Houpt JB.Various molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) preparations have been injected into joints for the treatment of human and equine osteoarthritis. A therapeutic advantage has been claimed for commercial products with a molecular weight in the range found in normal synovial fluid (SF), compared to lower molecular weight products. But a correlation between molecular weight and efficacy is not borne out by an analysis of the available literature on clinical results. SF viscosity, HA concentration, HA molecular weight and rate of synthesis in joint disease. It is proposed that the beneficial effect o...
Barr AR, Duance VC, Wotton SF, Waterman AE.The influence of repeated intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate and polysulphated glycosaminoglycan on the repair of full-thickness osteochondral defects was examined in the midcarpal joints of ponies. The study showed no significant difference between treated and control groups with regard to total collagen content, uronic acid content or the relative proportions of Type I and Type II collagen in the repair tissue, indicating that the drugs did not affect the biochemical composition of the repair tissue 11 weeks after defect induction.
Bowker RM, Rockershouser SJ, Vex KB, Sonea IM, Caron JP, Kotyk R.To determine whether the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint directly or indirectly communicates with the navicular bursa (bursa podotrochlearis) and to identify sensory nerves in these synovial structures that might be desensitized by intra-articular injections of anesthetics, Evans blue dye in physiologic saline solution, Luxol fast blue dye with mepivicaine, or commercial latex was injected into the DIP joint (5 ml) or the navicular bursa (3 ml) of 152 digits obtained from horses or ponies at necropsy. The digits were frozen, cut with a band saw, and examined for distribution of dye or latex...
Harkins JD, Carney JM, Tobin T.Corticosteroids possess potent anti-inflammatory activity and are commonly injected intra-articularly for local relief of inflammatory lesions in performance horses. However, the suppression of anabolic activity in the joint may lead to an increased rate of joint breakdown. Complications associated with intra-articular corticosteroid therapy include septic arthritis, which is usually due to inadvertent joint contamination at the time of corticosteroid injection, and steroid arthropathy, which is characterized by an accelerated rate of joint destruction and radiographic evidence of severe degen...
Todhunter RJ, Minor RR, Wootton JA, Krook L, Burton-Wurster N, Lust G.Our aim was to determine if mild to moderate postoperative exercise and intra-articular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan result in improved repair of large, experimentally induced osteochondral defects in a weight-bearing surface of equine joints. Arthroscopic debridement was used to produce full-thickness defects in a weight-bearing area of the radial carpal bones in 18 ponies. The ponies were randomly assigned to two groups balanced for age: nine animals in the exercise and nine in the no exercise group. Six ponies in each group were medicated weekly for 5 weeks with an intra-articular injecti...
Todhunter RJ, Freeman KP, Yeager AE, Lust G.This study assessed the effects of postoperative exercise and intra-articular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) on the repair of osteochondral defects in the carpal joints of ponies. Eighteen ponies with normal carpi had osteochondral defects (mean dimensions 2.4 cm x 0.9 cm) created arthroscopically on the dorsal aspect of the distal articular surface of the radial carpal bone. The ponies were randomized (while balancing for age [range, 2 to 15 years; median, 5.0 years]) to two groups--nine ponies were exercised and nine were stall confined. Beginning at surgery, six ponies in each group...
Peloso JG, Stick JA, Caron JP, Peloso PM, Soutas-Little RW.In this double-blind study, the effectiveness of and dose response to intra-articular administration of modified hyaluronan (hylan) was determined in an equine carpal lameness model over a 23-day period, using a computerized three-dimensional motion analysis system, synovial fluid variables, and synovial histologic examination. In 24 clinically sound horses, baseline motion data was acquired from horses trotting at 4 m/s on a high-speed treadmill. Then, to induce lameness, 25 mg of amphotericin B in 5 ml of sterile water was injected into the left middle carpal joint of each horse every other ...
Fubini SL, Boatwright CE, Todhunter RJ, Lust G.Intra-articularly administered, long-acting corticosteroids are a beneficial treatment for many equine joint disorders because they alleviate inflammation and signs of pain, but they also exert detrimental effects on the biochemical composition and morphologic features of articular cartilage. Chondroprotective drugs have been shown to mitigate some of the deleterious effects of intra-articularly administered corticosteroids on articular cartilage of laboratory animals. Twenty-one ponies were assigned at random to receive 1 of 3 treatments in the right middle carpal joint. Group-1 ponies (n = 8...
Drevemo S, Johnston C, Roepstorff L, Gustås P.Nerve blocks and intra-articular anaesthesia are used extensively as routine methods in lameness evaluation. The method is based on the assumption that the technique itself does not change the movement pattern. The aim of this study was to carry out a quantitative kinematic study to confirm or reject the hypothesis that high palmar digital nerve block (HPDN) and intra-articular fetlock joint anaesthesia (IAF) influence significantly the movement pattern of the horse. Seven Standardbred horses trotting at 4.5 m/s were recorded at 240 Hz on a treadmill before and after anaesthesia by use of a Pr...
Frost AB, Larsen F, Larsen SW, Østergaard J, Thomsen MH, Stürup S, Andersen PH, Larsen C.To establish a pharmacokinetic model for the model drug, sodium diatrizoate (DTZ), allowing joint disappearance kinetics to be estimated from serum appearance kinetics following intra-articular administration, and to calculate the relative joint exposure after intravenous and intra-articular DTZ administration (F(iv/IA)). Methods: Each of five horses received an aqueous solution of 3.9 mg/kg sodium diatrizoate both intravenously and intra-articularly separated by a one-week wash out period. Serum and synovial samples were collected over 7 h and analyzed for content of model compound using indu...
Owen RA, Marsh JA, Hallett FR, Lumsden JH, Johnson J.Methylprednisolone acetate was injected repeatedly into both intercarpal joints of a horse that had a 3rd carpal bone fracture in 1 limb. Synovial fluid from intercarpal and radiocarpal joints of both limbs were obtained serially for study. Arthropathy developed in the fractured joint following prolonged corticosteroid therapy and exercise. In the corticosteroid-injected normal joint, the hyaluronic acid concentration initially decreased, then increased. A depletion in cartilage matrix was seen at necropsy, 175 days after onset of treatment. Determination of total protein content in synovial f...
de Souza AF, Paretsis NF, De Zoppa ALDV.A systematic review was conducted to investigate evidence to support or refute the use of hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel as intra-articular therapy in equines, which are frequent treatment options in the routine of veterinarians of equines in cases of osteoarthritis. In total, 19 studies were included, among clinical and in vitro studies, as well as a retrospective series of cases. The outcomes of the included studies provided fragile evidence supporting the recommendation for intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid. No study was included showing any clinical outcome in diseased s...
Bessonnat A, Picotte K, Lavoie JP.Locally administered corticosteroids are commonly used to treat joint diseases in sport and racehorses. As they are also the most potent drugs for the treatment of equine asthma, we hypothesised that the intra-articular corticosteroids used to treat joint diseases also improve the lung function in horses with severe asthma, thus potentially delaying the diagnosis of this common lung condition. Objective: To compare the effects of intra-articular (IA) and intramuscular (IM) triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on lung function in horses with severe asthma. Methods: Randomised and controlled experiment ...
Adler DMT, Jørgensen E, Cornett C.To determine the synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of lidocaine and mepivacaine after intra-articular injection with clinically relevant doses to the distal interphalangeal (DIP), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), middle carpal (MC), and tarsocrural (TC) joint at two different time points after injection in order to be able to compare concentrations with previously established concentrations associated with cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Unassigned: In the first of two experiments, 20 joints (5 MC, 5 MCP, 10 DIP joints) of five horses under general anesthesia were injected with clinically ...
Koch DW, Barrett MF, Jackman BR, MacDonald D, Goodrich LR.Aims: To compare the outcome, in terms of lameness score or return to athletic function, of horses with acute vs. chronic digital lameness that underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the distal limb and to compare the proportion of horses that received intra-articular therapy of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and pattern of diagnostic analgesia in these groups. Methods: This is a retrospective study of horses (n = 95) with acute (≤12 weeks; n = 46) or chronic (>12 weeks; n = 49) digital lameness that underwent MRI of the distal limb from 2009-2016, at two equine re...
Kettner NU, Parker JE, Watrous BJ.A 2-week-old Morgan filly examined because of lameness of 5 days' duration was found, on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, to have septic physitis of the distal end of the radius. The foal was treated by means of intraosseous regional perfusion with penicillin and amikacin and systemic administration of antimicrobials. Intraosseous regional perfusion was performed 3 times. The foal was anesthetized for the first episode of intraosseous regional perfusion, but was only sedated for the subsequent 2 episodes. Antimicrobials were administered systemically for 22 days. Foals with sep...
Nagelli CV, Evans CH, De la Vega RE.Delivering genes to chondrocytes offers new possibilities both clinically, for treating conditions that affect cartilage, and in the laboratory, for studying the biology of chondrocytes. Advances in gene therapy have created a number of different viral and non-viral vectors for this purpose. These vectors may be deployed in an ex vivo fashion, where chondrocytes are genetically modified outside the body, or by in vivo delivery where the vector is introduced directly into the body; in the case of articular and meniscal cartilage in vivo delivery is typically by intra-articular injection. Ex viv...
Sammut EB, Kannegieter NJ.Intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) was investigated as an agent for chemical arthrodesis of the distal hock joints in the horse. Five horses diagnosed with either spavin (three horses), a small tarsal bone fracture or a failed surgical arthrodesis, had 150 mg of MIA injected into the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint of the affected hock(s). Eight joints were treated in the five horses. Follow-up evaluation by clinical and radiological examination took place over 9 to 14 months. Two of the five horses were sound at the conclusion of the study and one horse, although lame after...
Miller SM, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Zarucco LA.A technique was developed for arthrocentesis of the palmaroproximal pouch of the pastern joint. The landmark for percutaneous puncture is a 'V' shaped depression formed by the palmar aspect of the proximal phalanx (P1) dorsally, an eminence associated with the attachment of the collateral ligaments to P1 and the middle phalanx distally and the insertion of the lateral branch of the superficial digital flexor tendon palmarodistally. Comparison of arthrocentesis between the palmaroproximal approach and the traditional dorsal approach in 8 cadavers and 8 horses demonstrated that the palmaroproxim...
Millican AA, Leatherwood JL, Coverdale JA, Arnold CE, Bradbery AN, Larson CK, Lamprecht ED, White SH, Paulk CB, Welsh TH, Wickersham TA.Sixteen weanling Quarter Horses (255 ± 22 kg) were utilized in a 56-d trial to evaluate the effects of trace mineral (TM) source on intra-articular inflammation following a single acute inflammatory insult. Horses were stratified by age, sex, and BW and then randomly assigned to dietary treatment: concentrate formulated with Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co as inorganic sources (CON; n = 8) or complexed TMs (CTM; n = 8). Added TM were formulated at iso-levels across treatments and intakes met or exceeded NRC requirements. Horses were offered 1.75% BW (as-fed) of treatment concentrate and 0.75% BW (as-fed) ...
Castro-Cuellar G, Cremer J, Liu CC, Queiroz-Williams P, Hampton C, Leise BS.To investigate the cytotoxic effects of 2 different concentrations of buprenorphine and compare them with bupivacaine and morphine on healthy equine chondrocytes in vitro. Methods: Primary cultured equine articular chondrocytes from 3 healthy adult horses. Methods: Chondrocytes were exposed for 0 and 2 hours to the following treatments: media (CON; negative control); bupivacaine at 2.2 mg/mL (BUPI; positive control); morphine at 2.85 mg/mL (MOR); buprenorphine at 0.12 mg/mL (HBUPRE); or buprenorphine at 0.05 mg/mL (LBUPRE). Chondrocyte viability was assessed using live/dead staining, water-sol...
Strand E, Martin GS, Crawford MP, Kamerling SG, Burba DJ.The objective of this study was to determine if intraarticular pressure, elastance of the soft tissue forming the dorsal pouch, and range of motion in flexion measurements are significantly different in Thoroughbred metacarpophalangeal joints with clinical evidence of idiopathic synovitis, primary synovitis, synovitis/capsulitis, or osteoarthritis relative to clinically normal joints. Forty-two metacarpophalangeal joints, in 25 active or retired Thoroughbred racehorses, were categorised by palpation and visual inspection of the palmar pouch into one of 4 increasing grades of distention. Intra-...
Tulamo RM, Raekallio M, Taylor P, Johnson CB, Salonen M.Both morphine and physiologic saline injected intra-articularly into healthy equine tarsocrural joints induced a release of large molecular size proteoglycan (PG) subunits into the synovial fluid (SF) analysed 24 h postinjection. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a size-exclusion column was used to assess the high molecular weight proteoglycans in equine synovial fluid (SF). The PG peaks of SF samples eluated separately from SF hyaluronate and other molecular components of the SF in the HPLC chromatographies indicating no interaction between hyaluronate and PG in the SF. Indiv...
Sasaki N, Minami T, Yamada K, Yamada H, Inoue Y, Kobayashi M, Tabata Y.To evaluate the effect of intra-articular injection of gelatin hydrogel microspheres containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on experimentally induced defects in third metacarpal bones (MC3s) of horses, in vivo. Methods: 6 healthy adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: Horses were anesthetized, and a hole (diameter, 4.5 mm) was drilled into the medial condyle of both MC3s of each horse. One milliliter (100 microg) of a solution of gelatin hydrogel microspheres (2 mg) containing bFGF was injected into the joint capsule of the right metacarpophalangeal joint of each horse (bFGF joint). One milli...
Kraus-Hansen AE, Jann HW, Kerr DV, Fackelman GE.The intra-articular anatomy of 103 equine tarsi was studied by contrast radiography with image intensification and computerized tomography. There was communication between the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints in 21 of 55 (38%) interpretable tarsometatarsal arthrograms, and in 11 of 48 (23%) interpretable distal intertarsal arthrograms. The difference was not significant. The volume of contrast agent and the pressure of injection did not correlate with communication. Forced injection caused subcutaneous leakage of contrast medium but not communication. Communication occurred via th...
Westendorf J, Wobeser B, Epp T.Inter- and intra-rater variability negatively affects the reliability of various histopathology grading scales used as prognostic aids in human and veterinary medicine. The Kenney-Doig categorization (grading) scale, which is used to associate equine endometrial histologic lesions with prognostic estimation of a broodmare's reproductive potential, has not been evaluated for inter- or intra-rater variability, to our knowledge. To assess whether the Kenney-Doig system produces reliable results among observers, 8 pathologists, all with American College of Veterinary Pathologists certification, we...
Barclay WP, Foerner JJ, Phillips TN.Osteochondral fragmentation of the plantar aspect of the proximal phalanx was diagnosed as a cause of hind limb lameness in 19 horses. The lameness was evident at the upper levels of the horses' performance capabilities, and was isolated to the metatarsophalangeal joints by use of intra-articular or regional anesthesia. Fragments were surgically removed from 10 horses that later returned to full use. Seven horses were treated intra-articularly with polysulfated glycosaminoglycans or corticosteroids; only one horse was able to return to full use. One horse was retired from work at the time of d...
Coomer RPC, Terschuur JA, Pressanto MC, Walker I.To assess the efficacy of commercial intra-articular blood-derived allogeneic-induced mesenchymal stem cells (CIMSCs) to treat tarsometatarsal lameness in horses. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records from 167 adult light breed horses with bilateral tarsometatarsal lameness. Methods: Horses with tarsometatarsal lameness were retrospectively selected from medical records. Diagnosis followed subjective graded lameness assessment before and after intra-articular analgesia, with graded radiographic tarsal examination. Horses were excluded if they were diagnosed or treate...
Page AE, Johnson M, Parker JL, Jacob O, Poston R, Adams AA, Adam EN.Intra-articular corticosteroids are a popular treatment choice for joint-associated pain and inflammation in horses despite recent work on the metabolic effects of these drugs. The goal of this project was to compare metabolic effects between intra-articular (IA) triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and an autologous protein solution (APS). Five mixed-breed geldings (4-9 years) were utilized for this project. Three identical and consecutive 28-day treatment blocks were used, with metacarpophalangeal IA treatments consisting of equal volumes of saline, a commercially available APS, or 9 mg of TA. Regul...
Korac L, Golestani N, MacNicol J, Souccar-Young J, Witherspoon S, Wildish A, Topfer S, Pearson W.The purpose was to determine local (articular) and systemic effects of intra-articular interleukin-1 in horses supplemented with a dietary PUFA supplement [STRUCTURE-Joint (ST-J)]. Sixteen (16) healthy, mature, light breed horses were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 120 mL (n = 8 per group) of ST-J for 30 d. On days 0 (prior to beginning supplementation) and 27, recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1 β) (75 ng) was injected into the left or right intercarpal joint to induce mild, transient synovitis. Synovial fluid was obtained by aseptic arthrocentesis at postinjection hou...
Whitaker B, Barnhard JA, Webb KR, Levine D, Green MM, Vieira MR.This study assessed the safety and tolerability of concurrent intra-articular (IA) injection of 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG) and betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate esters (BME) in the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJs) of healthy horses. Methods: 10 healthy therapeutic riding horses were enrolled in this open-label safety study from August 1 to September 14, 2023. Inclusion criteria required normal physical examinations, insulin level, hematology, biochemistry, soundness at all gaits, and negative forelimb flexion tests. Screening occurred from days -14 to -0...
Perrone G, Giampaoli C, Smirnoff AL, Ochoa A, Pareja R, De Simone E.Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common pathology in sport horses, presenting a chronic and recurrent course. Traditional anti-inflammatory treatments provide only temporary clinical improvement and pain relief; however, they have been associated with metabolic disorders in articular cartilage in the medium term. In this study, we generated a llama polyclonal antibody against equine TNF-α, which was used for intra-articular treatment in horses with OA. Treatment effects were assessed through clinical examination and the determination of inflammatory parameters (MMP-2, MMP-9, LDH, and GAGs) in ...
Adler DMT, Nielsen AT, Olsen C, Verwilghen D, Damborg P, Olsen RH.To investigate the in vitro efficacy of antibiotics (amikacin, ceftiofur, and gentamicin) in combination with local anesthetics (LAs; bupivacaine hydrochloride, lidocaine hydrochloride, and mepivacaine hydrochloride), a combination commonly performed for IA injectate and regional limb perfusion (RLP) in horses. Unassigned: 17 equine clinical isolates were tested by the checkerboard method for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against a combination of concentrations of LAs and antibiotics from August 2020 through December 2023. Unassigned: For the majority of combinations, the antibi...
Berni P, Del Bue M, Conti V, Andreoli V, Ramoni R, Angelone M, Squassino GP, Bari E, Torre ML, Rinaldi M, Dotti S, Rossi R, Yusuf I, Mauri P....Most in vivo studies on MSC-secretome for osteoarthritis (OA) have relied on animal models, using products lacking pharmaceutical quality, not formulated for clinical use, and insufficiently characterized, limiting knowledge of its effectiveness. This study reports veterinary clinical trials on dogs and horses with spontaneous OA: in dogs (26 subjects), the trial is randomized, double-blinded, and controlled; in horses, 5 clinical cases were treated for safety assessment. Treatment consisted of hyaluronic acid with either lyosecretome - a freeze-dried, injectable MSC-secretome obtained through...
Munoz Moran JA.This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular (IA) injections of a combination of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on joint effusion following arthroscopic removal of OCD in the tarso-crural joint (TCJ) in young Andalusian horses. Methods: Forty Andalusian horses diagnosed with OCD of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT) were included in the study. Horses enrolled in this study had persisting synovial effusion after arthroscopic removal of OCD in the TCJ. A subjective semi-quantitative effusion score was adopted in the study to define the ...
McCarthy MB, Duesterdieck-Zellmer KF, Larson MK.To determine whether Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) ameliorates the effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on equine articular cartilage, or exerts negative effects on normal equine articular cartilage homeostasis in vitro. Methods: Articular cartilage explants from 6 healthy femoropatellar joints of 3 adult horses. Methods: Explants were allocated to the IL-1 challenged or unchallenged group, then exposed to 1 of 6 concentrations of BoNT-A (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 500 pg/mL) for 96 hours. To assess BoNT-A's effects on inflammation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in media via ELISA. Matrix ...
