Joint health in horses involves the study of anatomical structures such as cartilage, synovial fluid, ligaments, and bones that contribute to the function and mobility of equine joints. Research in this area focuses on understanding the physiology of equine joints, the mechanisms of joint disorders, and the effects of wear and tear over time. Common joint issues in horses include osteoarthritis, synovitis, and joint effusion, which can impact performance and quality of life. Diagnostic techniques often involve imaging, synovial fluid analysis, and clinical evaluation to assess joint condition. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, pathology, diagnostics, and therapeutic approaches related to joint health in horses.
Gilday R, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Fogarty U, Laverty S.The administration of bisphosphonate medications, which target osteoclastic-bone remodelling, to juvenile and adult racehorses is a matter of debate owing to concerns that these molecules remain bound to the bone-mineralised matrix and may interfere with subsequent bone growth, adaptation to exercise and healing of bone microdamage in equine athletes. Osteoclasts participate in endochondral ossification, subchondral bone remodelling and bone repair. There is a knowledge gap on the role of equine osteoclast biology in the growth and maturation of joint surfaces and this information is important...
Pezzanite L, Chow L, Soontararak S, Phillips J, Goodrich L, Dow S.Equine veterinarians frequently inject aminoglycoside antibiotics intra-articularly, either to treat septic arthritis or for prophylaxis with other medications when injecting joints for osteoarthritis. Although aminoglycosides have been demonstrated to be toxic to equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), their effects on resident joint cells have not been previously investigated. Moreover, safe and effective intra-articular doses have not been defined. Objective: To determine effects of concentration, duration of exposure, pH and the presence of synovial fluid on the cytotoxic effects of amikacin ...
Fugazzola MC, van Weeren PR.Focal cartilaginous and osteochondral lesions can have traumatic or chondropathic degenerative origin. The fibrocartilaginous repair tissue that forms naturally, eventually undergoes fibrillation and degeneration leading to further disruption of joint homeostasis. Both types of lesion will therefore eventually lead to activity-related pain, swelling and decreased mobility and will frequently progress to osteoarthritis. Most attempts at realising cartilage regeneration have so far resulted in cartilage repair (and not regeneration). The aim of this article was to review experimental research on...
Peal BT, Gagliardi R, Su J, Fortier LA, Delco ML, Nixon AJ, Reesink HL.The objectives of this study were to evaluate temporal changes in lubricin, hyaluronan (HA), and HA molecular weight (MW) distributions in three distinct models of equine joint injury affecting the carpal (wrist), tarsal (ankle), and femoropatellar (knee) joints. To establish ranges for lubricin, HA, and HA MW distributions across multiple joints, we first evaluated clinically healthy, high-motion equine joints. Synovial fluid was collected from high-motion joints in horses without clinical signs of joint disease (n = 11 horses, 102 joints) and from research horses undergoing carpal osteo...
Menarim BC, Gillis KH, Oliver A, Mason C, Werre SR, Luo X, Byron CR, Kalbfleisch TS, MacLeod JN, Dahlgren LA.Synovial inflammation is a central feature of osteoarthritis (OA), elicited when local regulatory macrophages (M2-like) become overwhelmed, activating an inflammatory response (M1-like). Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a source of naïve macrophages capable of reducing joint inflammation and producing molecules essential for cartilage metabolism. This study investigated the response of BMNC to normal (SF) and inflamed synovial fluid (ISF). Equine BMNC cultured in autologous SF or ISF (n = 8 horses) developed into macrophage-rich cultures with phenotypes similar to cells native to no...
Pérez-Nogués M, Vaughan B, Phillips KL, Galuppo LD.To determine the safety and efficacy of caudal cervical articular process joint arthroscopy by using needle arthroscopy in standing sedated horses. Methods: Prospective experimental case series. Methods: Six adult horses. Methods: Three horses underwent exploration of bilateral C5-6 vertebral articular process joints and three bilateral C6-7 articular process joints by using a 1.2 × 65-mm needle arthroscope under standing sedation. The 16-gauge arthroscopic trocar and canula assembly was inserted in the desired articular process joint under ultrasonographic guidance without distention of ...
Perrone G, Lastra Y, González C, Caggiano N, Giménez R, Pareja R, De Simone E.Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent arthropathy in sport horses. The administration of a platelet lysate (PL) is an alternative method for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. The mechanisms by which PL exerts its beneficial effects have not been determined, and less is known about its effect on the activity of the proteolytic enzymes of the synovial fluid of equines with OA. In this work, the effect of the administration of PL to horses with OA was analyzed both clinically and molecularly by determining the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9...
Delco ML, Goodale M, Talts JF, Pownder SL, Koff MF, Miller AD, Nixon B, Bonassar LJ, Lundgren-Åkerlund E, Fortier LA.Early intervention with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after articular trauma has the potential to limit progression of focal lesions and prevent ongoing cartilage degeneration by modulating the joint environment and/or contributing to repair. Integrin α10β1 is the main collagen type II binding receptor on chondrocytes, and MSCs that are selected for high expression of the α10 subunit have improved chondrogenic potential. The ability of α10β1-selected (integrin α10high) MSCs to protect cartilage after injury has not been investigated. To investigate integrin α10high MSCs to prevent postt...
van Zadelhoff C, Schwarz T, Smith S, Engerand A, Taylor S. To describe detectable and non-detectable naturally occurring cartilage damage of the equine distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint using plain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and gadolinium and saline MR arthrography. The second objective was to quantify the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in detection of cartilage damage. In a pilot study, the distal limbs of two horses with confirmed osteoarthritis of the DIP joint were imaged with low-field MR. Magnetic resonance images were assessed in consensus by three observers and compared to gross pathological findings. Subsequently, a prospectiv...
Lemirre T, Santschi E, Girard C, Fogarty U, Chapuis L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.The juvenile equine medial femoral condyle (MFC) is frequently affected with radiographic changes (sclerosis and subchondral lucencies) that arise at a similar site to juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) in children. There is little information on maturation of the MFC. To describe the normal development of the equine MFC osteochondral unit from birth to 2 years. Unassigned: Micro CT, histology and immunohistochemistry were performed on healthy equine MFCs (n = 29) at sites where lesions occur. Parameters assessed included: cartilage thickness; the epiphyseal growth plate cartilage org...
Ruocco NA, Luedke LK, Fortier LA, Ducharme NG, Reesink HL.The most common pathologic manifestation of , a gram-positive, facultative intracellular bacterium, is pyogranulomatous pneumonia in foals and weanlings. Hematogenous spread of bacteria may subsequently occur, resulting in joint sepsis, osteomyelitis, or subcutaneous abscessation. Medical records from horses presenting to the Cornell University Equine Hospital from 1998 to 2018 were reviewed for cases diagnosed with joint and/or bone infection, and information about case progression and outcome were analyzed. We hypothesized that, despite advances in diagnostic imaging, antimicrobials and ant...
Kadic DTN, Bonilla AG.To develop and assess a needle arthroscopic technique to diagnose conditions of the tarsocrural joint (TCj) in standing sedated horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Six cadaveric hind limbs (phase 1) and six healthy horses (Phase 2). Methods: In phase 1, each TCj was examined with a 1.2-mm-needle arthroscope. Suitability of the needle arthroscope and degree of joint visualization with traditional arthroscopic approaches were assessed. In phase 2, the feasibility of the procedure was assessed in six standing healthy horses. A custom-made splint and base were developed to maintain joint...
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...
Norvall A, Cota JG, Pusterla N, Cissell D.Equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are increasingly recognized as a problem for the well-being and performance of horses. Diagnosis is confounded by overlap of clinical signs associated with pathology of the oral cavity, poll, and cervical vertebrae. Arthrocentesis for intra-articular analgesia, sampling of synovial fluid, and medication is needed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Ultrasound features of the normal TMJ and a blind arthrocentesis technique have been described, but a systematic approach to ultrasound-guided (USG) arthrocentesis has not been reported. Ultrasound ...
Moss KL, Jiang Z, Dodson ME, Linardi RL, Haughan J, Gale AL, Grzybowski C, Engiles JE, Stefanovski D, Robinson MA, Ortved KF.Joint trauma leads to post-traumatic inflammation with upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and degradative enzymes. If severe enough, this response can lead to irreversible post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory effects, has been shown to have chondroprotective effects. A gene therapy approach using a vector to overexpress IL-10 in the joint represents a feasible method of delivering sustained high doses of IL-10 to post-traumatic joints. We hypothesized that an AAV5 vector overexpressing IL-10 would result in rapid and sustained IL-1...
Graham RJTY, Anderson JR, Phelan MM, Cillan-Garcia E, Bladon BM, Taylor SE.Palmar osteochondral disease (POD) is a common cause of lameness in competition horses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive diagnostic modality currently available, however it may not be financially or logistically practical for routine screening of POD. There is increasing interest in the use of metabolomics for diagnosis prior to progression to irreversible damage. Objective: To determine metabolite levels in synovial fluid (SF) of horses with a clinical diagnosis of POD based on diagnostic analgesia and MRI, with the hypothesis that metabolomic profiles differ between dis...
Neuenschwander HM, Moreira JJ, Vendruscolo CP, Fülber J, Seidel SRT, Michelacci YM, Baccarin RYA.The intra-articular use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the treatment of synovitis and osteoarthritis is still controversial. As a consequence, corticosteroids remain the most frequently employed therapeutic agents, despite their potential systemic and local deleterious effects. This study examined the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chondroprotective activities of low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA and HMW-HA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis in horses compared to triamcinolone acetonide (TA). LPS was injected in the metacarpophalangeal joints, which were treat...
Smyth TT, Allen AL, Carmalt JL.To describe histologic changes in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of horses of various ages. Methods: 22 TMJs from cadavers of 11 horses. Methods: Horses were categorized into 3 age groups (group 1, 2 to 10 years old [n = 3]; group 2, 11 to 20 years old [3]; and group 3, > 20 years old [5]). Each TMJ was sectioned into 5-mm slices, preserved in formalin, decalcified in formic acid, and routinely processed for histologic analysis. Joints were systematically assessed by use of previously described methods. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to examine the data. Results: The number of ...
Gonçalves LM, Pozzobon R, Dos Anjos BL, Pellegrini DCP, Azevedo MS, Dau SL, Oliveira GP, Klaus R.The term juvenile osteochondral condition (JOCC) has been used to identify developmental changes in the growth plates. The condition is characterized by a set of changes with similar pathogenesis that affect the immature skeleton and joints of growing foals. The aim of the current study is to investigate the prevalence and degree of severity of osteochondral changes in Brazilian warmblood (BW) foals in two farms in the south of Brazil. Radiological evaluation was applied to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), carpal (C), metatarsophalangeal (MTP), tarsal (T), and femorotibiopatellar (FTP) joints of...
Menarim BC, Gillis KH, Oliver A, Mason C, Ngo Y, Werre SR, Barrett SH, Luo X, Byron CR, Dahlgren LA.Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by macrophage-driven synovitis. Macrophages promote synovial health but become inflammatory when their regulatory functions are overwhelmed. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNCs) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors used for treating chronic inflammation and produce essential molecules for cartilage metabolism. This study investigated the response to autologous BMNC injection in normal and inflamed joints. Synovitis was induced in both radiocarpal joints of 6 horses. After 8 h, 1 inflamed radiocarpal and 1 normal tarsocrural joint received BMNC injec...
Johnston GCA, Wood KA, Jackson KV, Perkins NR, Zedler ST.Intra-articular (IA) hyaluronic acid (HA) is commonly used to treat equine arthritis. Inflammatory response or "joint flare" is a recognized potential side effect. However, the incidence and severity of inflammation following IA HA injection in horses is not well documented. This study compared the effects of two IA HA formulations of different molecular weight (MW) and a saline control on clinical signs and synovial fluid markers of inflammation in normal equine joints. Eight adult horses each had three healthy fetlock joints randomly assigned to treatment with either 1.4 mega Dalton HA, 0.8 ...
Crosby DE, Labens R, Hughes KJ, Nielsen S, Hilbert BJ.Synovial infections (SI) are common in horses of all ages and can be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Identifying factors influencing survival and return to function may be useful for management of affected individuals and determination of prognosis. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with survival and return to function of horses and foals with SI presented to an equine hospital. This study is a retrospective case series. Data were collected from medical records of all horses with SI that were presented to a single equine hospital between Ap...
Legg KA, Colborne GR, Gee EK, Rogers CW.To evaluate the elastic modulus of various ligaments of the forelimbs of cadaveric horses. Methods: 408 ligaments from 37 forelimbs of 10 Thoroughbred cadavers and cadavers of 9 other horse breeds. Methods: Collateral ligaments and straight and oblique sesamoid ligaments were harvested from the proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, carpal, and elbow joints of both forelimbs of all 19 horses. Ligament dimensions were measured, and the elastic modulus was determined by tensile testing the ligaments with a strain rate of 1 mm•s. Results: Elastic modulus of the ligaments differed signif...
Muñoz A, Saitua A, Becero M, Riber C, Satué K, de Medina AS, Argüelles D, Castejón-Riber C.In recent years, exercise on a water treadmill has come to have great relevance in rehabilitation and training centres for sport horses. Its use exploits certain physical properties of water, related to the fundamental principles of hydrodynamics, such as buoyancy, viscosity, hydrostatic pressure, and water temperature. These properties together with deliberate specification of the depth of the water and the velocity of the treadmill provide a combination of parameters that can be varied according to the purpose of the rehabilitation or training programme, the disease to rehabilitate, or the h...
Grzanna MW, Au RY, Au AY, Rashmir AM, Frondoza CG.Tendinopathy, a common disorder in man and horses, is characterized by pain, dysfunction, and tendon degeneration. Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of tendinopathy. Tendon cells produce proinflammatory molecules that induce pain and tissue deterioration. Currently used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are palliative but have been associated with adverse side effects prompting the search for safe, alternative compounds. This study determined whether tendon-derived cells' expression of proinflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE) could be a...
Magri C, Schramme M, Febre M, Cauvin E, Labadie F, Saulnier N, François I, Lechartier A, Aebischer D, Moncelet AS, Maddens S.The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of single and repeated intra-articular administration of allogeneic, umbilical cord-derived, neonatal mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in horses with lameness due to osteoarthritis (OA) of a metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ). Twenty-eight horses were included. Horses were divided into two groups. Horses in group MSC1 received an MSC injection at M0 and a placebo injection at M1 (1 month after M0). Horses in group MSC2 received MSC injections at M0 and at M1. Joint injections were performed with a blinded syringe. Clinical assessment w...
Moyer CT, Bramlage LR, Werre SR, Ruggles A, Embertson R, Hopper S.To describe the presence of fragments in the dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and to report flat racing performance after surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty-nine affected thoroughbred flat racehorses and 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings. Methods: Medical records from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed for thoroughbred horses that underwent arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments in the dorsal aspect of the PIP joint. The horses' 2-year-old year, 3-year-old year, and career athletic performances were compared with their matched siblings. Resul...
Gilbertie JM, Schnabel LV, Hickok NJ, Jacob ME, Conlon BP, Shapiro IM, Parvizi J, Schaer TP.Bacterial invasion of synovial joints, as in infectious or septic arthritis, can be difficult to treat in both veterinary and human clinical practice. Biofilms, in the form of free-floating clumps or aggregates, are involved with the pathogenesis of infectious arthritis and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Infection of a joint containing an orthopedic implant can additionally complicate these infections due to the presence of adherent biofilms. Because of these biofilm phenotypes, bacteria within these infected joints show increased antimicrobial tolerance even at high antibiotic concentr...
Beaulieu A, Linden AZ, Phillips J, Arroyo LG, Koenig J, Monteith G.In the equine racehorse industry, reduced athletic performance due to joint injury and lameness has been extensively reviewed. Intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids are routinely used to relieve pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Intra-articular injections of pharmaceutical agents require practice for precise needle placement and to minimize complications. Training on simulators or models is a viable alternative for developing these technical skills. The purpose of this study was to compare the qualitative ultrasonographic characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) pr...
Machado TSL, Massoco CO, Silva LCLC, Fülber J, Moreira JJ, Baccarin RYA.To compare effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), autologous processed plasma (APP), and sodium hyaluronate treatments on synovial fluid cells in vitro and on synovial fluid obtained from osteochondrotic joints of horses. Methods: Synovial fluid cells from 8 healthy equine tibiotarsal joints (in vitro experiment) and synovial fluid samples from 40 tibiotarsal joints of 25 horses with osteochondrosis dissecans (in vivo experiment). Methods: Effects of various treatments on concentrations of prostaglandin (PG) E2, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necr...
White KK, Hodgson DR, Hancock D, Parry BW, Cordell C.The effects of repeated arthrocentesis and injection of local anesthetic agents, lidocaine HCl or mepivacaine HCl on the equine middle carpal joint were investigated. Synovial fluid samples were evaluated before, and 12, 24 and 48 hours following, treatment. The greatest changes from pretreatment values occurred in synovial fluid cellularity. Repeated arthrocentesis caused a moderate increase in cell counts, while injection of local anesthetics caused a greater increase. Alterations in mucin clot quality, hyaluronic acid content, fluid viscosity, total protein and immunoglobulin G were general...
Clegg PD, Burke RM, Coughlan AR, Riggs CM, Carter SD.The cellular production by resident articular cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells of the gelatinase matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) was investigated by tissue culture methods and analysis of cell supernatants by gelatin zymography. Peripheral blood neutrophils in short term culture produced MMP-9, as did peripheral blood monocytes in culture. Isolated articular chondrocytes in monolayer culture produced both MMP-2 and MMP-9, although articular cartilage maintained as explant culture produced MMP-2 alone. Synovial fibroblasts grown in monolayer culture produced MMP-2 alone, although synov...
Tnibar A, Schougaard H, Camitz L, Rasmussen J, Koene M, Jahn W, Markussen B.Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) was evaluated recently to treat osteoarthritis (OA) in horses with highly encouraging results; however no long term field-study was done to explore its clinical efficacy and lasting effect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PAAG in improving clinical signs of OA in horses. We hypothesized that lameness grade would significantly improve and the effect would last at least 2 years in osteoarthritic joints treated with PAAG. Forty three horses older than 2 years with OA in only one joint based on clinical evaluation, intra-articular anaesthe...
Dowling PM, Wilson RC, Tyler JW, Duran SH.The pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin was investigated in healthy, mature ponies. Ciprofloxacin was administered intravenously to six ponies at a dose of 5 mg per kg body weight. Seven days later, ciprofloxacin was administered orally to each pony at the same dose. Intravenous ciprofloxacin concentration vs. time data best fit a two-compartment open model with first-order elimination from the central compartment. Mean plasma half-life, based on the terminal phase, was 157.89 min (harmonic mean). Total body clearance of ciprofloxacin was 18.12 +/- 3.99 mL/min/kg. Volume of distribution at stead...
Van de Water E, Oosterlinck M, Korthagen NM, Duchateau L, Dumoulin M, van Weeren PR, Olijve J, van Doorn DA, Pille F.An established lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model previously described in Warmbloods, was inconsistent in Standardbred horses, where lameness was not detected despite the presence of synovitis. The present study aimed to determine the dose of LPS from E. coli O55:B5 required to induce mild to moderate lameness following middle carpal joint injection in Standardbred horses and to quantitate the induced lameness over time, with and without anti-inflammatory pre-treatment. In a baseline trial, eight healthy, clinically sound Standardbred horses were used in a rule-based dose-escalation design trial, ...
McIlwraith CW, Foerner JJ, Davis DM.The technique and results of arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans in 318 tarsocrural joints in 225 horses are reported. Of the 225 horses, 154 were racehorses or intended for racing. Arthroscopic surgery was an effective technique for treating osteochondritis dissecans of the tarsocrural joint. The overall functional ability and cosmetic appearance of the limbs were excellent. Post surgical follow-up information was obtained for 183 horses, of which 140 (76.5 per cent) raced successfully or performed their intended use following surgery. Of the remaining 43, 11 w...
Miagkoff L, Girard CA, St-Jean G, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of equine lameness. Cannabinoid (CB) receptors are now considered to be promising therapeutic targets in human rheumatology for pain and inflammation, however, little is known about the equine endocannabinoid system. Objective: The primary goal was to assess the presence and expression pattern of CB1 and CB2 in the synovium of healthy joints. A secondary goal was to explore the relationship between the CB expression, degree of synovitis and OA pathology. Methods: Ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Metacarpophalangeal joints (n = 25) from a tissue bank w...
Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE, Werpy NM, Pearce GL.To assess the clinical, biochemical, and histologic effects of topically administered diclofenac liposomal cream (DLC) in the treatment of horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. Methods: 24 horses. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced arthroscopically in 1 middle carpal joint of all horses. Eight horses treated with DLC were given 7.3 g twice daily via topical application. Eight horses treated with phenylbutazone were given 2 g orally once daily. Eight control horses received no treatment. Evaluations included clinical, radiographic, magnetic resonance imaging, synovial fluid, gross...
Hendesi H, Stewart S, Gibison ML, Guehring H, Richardson DW, Dodge GR.Posttraumatic osteoarthritis is a disabling condition impacting the mostly young and active population. In the present study, we investigated the impact of intra-articular sprifermin, a recombinant truncated fibroblast growth factor 18, on the outcome of microfracture treatment, a widely used surgical technique to enhance cartilage healing at the site of injury. For this study, we created a cartilage defect and performed microfracture treatment in fetlock joints of 18 horses, treated joints with one of three doses of sprifermin (10, 30, or 100 μg) or with saline, hyaluronan, and evaluated a...
Dymock DC, Brown MP, Merritt KA, Trumble TN.To determine whether stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) concentrations in serum, plasma, and synovial fluid differed among untrained, race-trained, and osteochondral-injured Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: 22 racehorses without osteochondral injury and 37 racehorses with osteochondral injury. Methods: Horses without osteochondral injury were examined before and after 5 to 6 months of race training. Horses with osteochondral injury were undergoing arthroscopic surgery for removal of osteochondral fragments from carpal or metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joints (fetlock joints). S...
Brama PA, TeKoppele JM, Beekman B, van El B, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.To investigate the role of stromelysin (MMP-3) activity in synovial fluid (SF) at different stages of development and in common joint disorders in the horse. Methods: Stromelysin activity was determined with a fluorogenic enzyme activity assay in SF of normal joints of fetal, juvenile and adult horses, and in SF of horses suffering from the developmental orthopaedic disease osteochondrosis (OC) or osteoarthritis (OA). Additionally, MMP-3 activity was expressed as a ratio of previously reported general MMP activity in the same SF samples. Results: The levels of active stromelysin were 30-fold t...
Wong BL, Kim SH, Antonacci JM, McIlwraith CW, Sah RL.To determine the effects of acute injury and tribosupplementation by hyaluronan (HA) on synovial fluid (SF) modulation of cartilage shear during tibio-femoral articulation. Methods: Human osteochondral blocks from the lateral femoral condyle (LFC) and tibial plateau (LTP) were apposed, compressed 13%, and subjected to sliding under video microscopy. Tests were conducted with equine SF from normal joints (NL-SF), SF from acutely injured joints (AI-SF), and AI-SF to which HA was added (AI-SF+HA). Local and overall shear strain (E(xz)) and the lateral displacement (Deltax) at which E(xz) reached ...
Hilla D, Distl O.The main objective of this study is to estimate genetic parameters for osteochondrosis (OC) and osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) in fetlock, hock and stifle joints as well as for palmar or plantar osteochondral fragments (POFs) and dorsodistal osteochondral fragments (DOFs) in fetlock joints. For this purpose, the results of a standardized radiographic examination of 7396 Hanoverian Warmblood horses were used. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated using residual maximum likelihood (REML) under a linear animal model. Heritability estimates for OC at the different joints were at ...
Vos NJ.Data are lacking in the literature regarding the incidence of osteochondrosis (dissecans) [OC(D)] in relation to lameness evaluation in Dutch Warmblood horses. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence of radiological abnormalities consistent with osteochondrosis or osteochondrosis dissecans in 1,231 sound Dutch Warmblood (DW) horses presented for pre-purchase examination. Standardised (Dutch) pre-purchase examination protocols were evaluated. The pre-purchase examination included a clinical, lameness and radiological evaluation, performed at a private equine clinic...
Moreira JJ, Moraes AP, Brossi PM, Machado TS, Michelacci YM, Massoco CO, Baccarin RY.This experimental controlled study was performed to evaluate the composition of autologous processed plasma (APP), and the effects of APP intra-articular injection into healthy equine metacarpophalangeal joints. The effects on joints were analysed with a short-phase protocol and a prolonged-phase protocol using saline-injected joints as controls. For the short protocol, horses received one intra-articular APP injection. Synovial fluid samples were collected prior to the injection and 3, 6, 24, 48, and 16 h after treatment. For the prolonged protocol, the joints received three weekly injections...
Dobenecker B, Reese S, Jahn W, Schunck M, Hugenberg J, Louton H, Oesser S.The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of specific bioactive collagen peptides (BCP), here administered orally as PETAGILE® , on horses with mild to moderate, naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Data from a two-centred pilot study were used for the meta-analysis. Thirty-eight privately owned horses of various breeds were available. In one centre, 18 of these patients (6 ± 3 years; 519 ± 100 kg BW) received either 25 g (n = 6) or 50 g (n = 12) BCP/day orally for 12 weeks. In the second centre, 20 horses (18 ± 4 years; 413 ± 94 kg BW) received either a...
Grissom MJ, Temple-Wong MM, Adams MS, Tom M, Schumacher BL, McIlwraith CW, Goodrich LR, Chu CR, Sah RL.Following various types of naturally-occurring traumatic injury to an articular joint, the lubricating ability of synovial fluid is impaired, with a correlated alteration in the concentration and/or structure of lubricant molecules, hyaluronan and proteoglycan-4. However, the effect of arthroscopic cartilage repair surgery on synovial fluid lubricant function and composition is unknown. Objective: Arthroscopic treatment of full-thickness chondral defects in horses with (1) platelet-enriched fibrin or (2) platelet-enriched fibrin+mesenchymal stem cells leads to equine synovial fluid with impair...
Borg H, Carmalt JL.To determine the frequency of postoperative septic arthritis after elective arthroscopy in the absence of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy and to report complication rate of 444 consecutive equine arthroscopies. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 444). Methods: Medical records of 444 consecutive elective equine arthroscopies (2008-2010) were reviewed. Horses that had septic arthritis on admission or those admitted for tenoscopy and bursoscopy, or had arthroscopic assisted internal fracture fixation were not included. Age and sex of horse, duration of anesthesia, joint e...
Koziy RV, Yoshimura S, Dickinson R, Rybicka JM, Moshynskyy I, Ngeleka M, Bracamonte JL, Simko E.Septic arthritis is an important disease in horses, necessitating aggressive and prolonged therapy. In order to guide therapy, reliable methods of detecting the eradication of infection are needed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate detection of eradication of infection in an experimental model of equine septic arthritis using standard diagnostic techniques. For this purpose, 17 adult horses were assigned to 3 experimental groups. The middle carpal joint of each horse was injected with (Septic group, = 8), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (LPS group, = 6), or sterile saline (...
Piat P, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.To assess the effects of an intra-articular (IA) lidocaine or bupivacaine injection on synovial fluid (SF) biomarkers of cartilage metabolism. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Horses (n = 6). Methods: The study had 2 components, each with an identical design: the first arm assessed the effects of bupivacaine (0.5%) IA in the intercarpal joints and, after a 2-week washout period, the second was conducted to evaluate the effects of IA lidocaine (2%) in the tarsocrural joints. The mares were randomly assigned to receive the test local anesthetic in the target joint or the placebo (0.9% NaCl) in th...
Journal of proteomicsApril 25, 2019
Volume 202 103370 doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.04.020
Anderson JR, Smagul A, Simpson D, Clegg PD, Rubio-Martinez LM, Peffers MJ.Articular conditions are common in horses and can result in loss of function, chronic pain and/or inability to work. Common conditions include osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis and synovial sepsis, which can be life-threatening, but despite the high clinical prevalence of these conditions, rapid and specific diagnosis, monitoring and prognostication remains a challenge for practicing veterinarians. Synovial fluid from a range of arthropathies was enriched for low abundance proteins using combinatorial peptide ligand ProteoMiner™ beads and analysed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom...
Orr N, Hill EW, Gu J, Govindarajan P, Conroy J, van Grevenhof EM, Ducro BJ, van Arendonk JA, Knaap JH, van Weeren PR, Machugh DE, Ennis S, Brama PA.Equine osteochondrosis is a developmental joint disease that is a significant source of morbidity affecting multiple breeds of horse. The genetic variants underlying osteochondrosis susceptibility have not been established. Here, we describe the results of a genome-wide association study of osteochondrosis using 90 cases and 111 controls from a population of Dutch Warmblood horses. We report putative associations between osteochondrosis and loci on chromosome 3 (BIEC2-808543; P = 5.03 × 10(-7) ) and chromosome 10 (BIEC2-121323; P = 2.62 × 10(-7) ).
Denoix JM, Jacquet S, Lepeule J, Crevier-Denoix N, Valette JP, Robert C.Radiographic examination in young horses is commonly used to detect juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC). The aim of this study is to present the radiographic findings (RF) detected at the age of 6months in the joints of 392 foals from three breeds: French Trotter Standardbreds (FT), Selle-Français Warmbloods (SF) and Thoroughbreds (TB). Radiographic examination included lateromedial views of the fore and hind digits, tarsi and stifles, and dorsopalmar projections of both carpi. In all areas RF indicative of JOCC were classified according to a four-grade severity scoring system. Distribut...
Bodó G, Hangody L, Szabó Z, Peham C, Schinzel M, Girtler D, Sótonyi P.An 11-year-old, Hungarian half-bred stallion was presented with a history of mixed left hindlimb lameness of 6 months duration. Subchondral bone cyst of the medial femoral condyle and injury of the medial meniscus were diagnosed. Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was performed, taking grafts from the less weight-bearing medial border of the medial femoral trochlea of the affected limb, and transplanting them into the cyst during arthroscopy. The lameness was evaluated prior to and one year after the operation with a motion analysis system during treadmill exercise. ...
Haussler KK.Joint mobilization and manipulation provide important diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for addressing musculoskeletal issues in veterinary medicine. Soft tissue and joint mobilization are used to assess the quality and quantity of joint range of motion and as a primary means of treating musculoskeletal disorders. Spinal manipulation was shown to be effective for reducing pain, improving flexibility, reducing muscle tone, and improving symmetry of spinal kinematics in horses. Because of potential misuse and safety issues, joint mobilization and manipulative therapies should be provided onl...
Lapointe JM, Laverty S, Lavoie JP.Case histories, results of synovial fluid analyses, treatment regimens and outcome are described for 15 adult Standardbred horses with confirmed post-injection septic arthritis. Joint sepsis followed injection of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, polysulphated glycosaminoglycan, or local anaesthetic. The median interval from injection to appearance of clinical signs was 2.5 days, and median interval from injection to referral was 9 days. The median initial synovial leucocyte count on admission was 57 x 10(9)/litre, but there was a wide range of values (18-258 x 10(9)/litre). The median synovia...
Jacobsen S, Ladefoged S, Berg LC.To investigate the role of the major equine acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) in inflammation of equine intraarticular tissues. Methods: Articular chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from 8 horses (4 horses/cell type). Methods: Chondrocytes and FLSs were stimulated in vitro for various periods up to 48 hours with cytokines (recombinant interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, or a combination of all 3 [IIT]) or with recombinant SAA. Gene expression of SAA, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and -3, and cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein...
Mattoon JS, Drost WT, Grguric MR, Auld DM, Reed SM.Degenerative changes and osteochondrosis of articular processes are common sources of stiffness or pain in the equine cervical spine. Temporary relief of the clinical signs related to these maladies may be achieved by injecting corticosteroids into the joint. This is routinely done by ultrasound-guided needle placement. The cervical articular processes and joint form an easily identifiable sonographic landmark, a step-like echogenic surface described as having the appearance of a "chair."
