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Topic:Joint Health
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.
Characterisation of equine matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9; and identification of the cellular sources of these enzymes in joints. 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...
Effects of triamcinolone acetonide on an in vivo equine osteochondral fragment exercise model. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of intra-articularly administered triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in exercised equine athletes with carpal osteochondral fragmentation. Eighteen horses were randomly assigned to each of 3 groups. An osteochondral chip fragment was created in one randomly chosen intercarpal joint of each horse. Both intercarpal joints in the placebo control group (CNT) horses were injected with intra-articular administration (IA) of polyionic fluid. Both joints in the TA control group (TA CNT) horses were treated with 12 mg of TA in the intercarpal joint wit...
Use of antibiotic-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate in horses with open or infected fractures or joints: 19 cases (1987-1995). To evaluate the clinical efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in horses with open or infected fractures or joints in which internal fixation or external coaptation devices were used. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 19 horses in which antibiotic-impregnated PMMA was used as part of the treatment regimen. Methods: Medical records of each horse were reviewed, and owners and trainers were contacted to provide additional information. Results: Musculoskeletal problems in these horses included 10 fractures of long bones, 2 comminuted phalangeal fractures, 5 j...
Evaluation of the catabolic activity of cartilage by measurement of serum keratan sulfate concentration in foals. To determine keratan sulfate (KS) concentration in the serum of foals at the early stage of growing, and to evaluate the role of serum KS as a cartilage catabolic marker, comparing its values with the fluctuation of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity as a measurement of osteoblastic activity. Methods: 12 foals with normal growth and 3 foals with joint abnormalities within 18 months after birth. Methods: Measurement of KS concentration and ALP activity in serum and radiographic and physical examinations were done. Results: In all foals, serum KS concentration was high from 1 week after b...
Variability of the limb joint patterns of sound horses at trot. The reproducibility of gait variables for sound horses is essential for the interpretation of their modifications by locomotor disorders. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of the limb joint angle patterns in a population of sound horses while they trotted in the conditions of the routine lameness examination (slow trot, just held by hand, on a track, outdoors). The kinematics of 14 French Saddle horses was recorded using a 3-dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis system. Angle-time diagrams were established in the sagittal plane and their intra- and inter-indivi...
Radiological assessment of the effects of a full rolling motion shoe during asymmetrical bearing. The authors used a new radiological method to assess asymmetrical articular compression of the interphalangeal joints. This method was based on the measurements of 3 angles obtained on dorsopalmar radiographs. Variations of these angles were studied during experimental asymmetrical bearing on unshod feet. It was concluded that 2 angles were interesting parameters to assess asymmetrical articular compression and to define the position of the phalanx in the horny box. Furthermore, variations of these angles induced by experimental asymmetrical bearing were compared without shoe, with a standard ...
Joint moments and power in equine gait: a preliminary study. A method is described for the estimation of joint moments of force and power in the equine forelimb using S-VHS video and force platform data. Video and force data were collected for 5 walking trials in a sound Dutch Warmblood horse. The sagittal plane positional and angular data were combined with the vertical and cranio-caudal ground reaction forces to calculate net joint moments of force in the sagittal plane across the carpal, fetlock and coffin joints during the stance phase of the forelimb. The mechanical power was calculated as the product of the netjoint moment and the joint's angular ...
[Anatomy of the fetlock joint in horses by means of joint casts]. The equine fetlock joint cavity shows ten pouches. The dorsal recess, which is oriented to the proximal side, is separated from those three pouches, which show to the distal direction, by several capsular folds. These folds are documented by means of sagittal sections through the fetlock joint. A medial/lateral recess is covered by the deep part of the collateral ligament of the fetlock joint. The collateral ligaments as well as the sesamoidean collateral ligaments are closely connected with the joint capsule, from which two capsular folds are separated. Between the part of the sesamoidean col...
Evaluation of skin bacterial flora before and after aseptic preparation of clipped and nonclipped arthrocentesis sites in horses. This study evaluates skin bacterial flora before and after aseptic preparation of clipped and nonclipped arthrocentesis sites in horses. Methods: The hair over one midcarpal joint and one distal interphalangeal joint on each horse was clipped. The contralateral joint served as the nonclipped comparison. Methods: Twelve adult horses. Methods: A prescrub sample for microbial culture was taken from the dorsal surface of all four joints for each horse. Each site was aseptically prepared with povidone iodine and 70% alcohol, followed by postscrub sampling for microbial culture. Colony forming units...
Concentrations of keratan sulfate in plasma and synovial fluid from clinically normal horses and horses with joint disease. To determine whether keratan sulfate concentrations in plasma or synovial fluid from clinically normal horses were different from concentrations in horses with joint disease and whether concentrations varied with type of joint disease. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 67 clinically normal horses, 10 clinically normal foals, and 160 horses with joint disease. Methods: ELISA was used to measure keratan sulfate concentrations. Results: Mean plasma keratan sulfate concentration (mean +/- SEM, 580 +/- 124 ng/ml) in foals peaked at 10 weeks of age. Mean plasma keratan sulfate concentration in c...
Racing performance in standardbred trotters with chronic synovitis after partial arthroscopic synovectomy in the metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal and intercarpal (midcarpal) joints. Chronic synovitis may cause recurring lameness in competing race horses. Forty-five standardbred horses with recurring lameness secondary to chronic synovitis were studied. Arthroscopic synovectomy was performed in 32 metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joints and in 28 intercarpal joints of horses that had previously been treated unsuccessfully with commonly used intraarticular medication The outcome of the synovectomy was evaluated by comparing racing performance before and after surgery. The synovial membrane was microscopically characterized as chronic synovitis of varying severity. Racing perf...
Variation of an epitope of keratan sulphate and total glycosaminoglycans in normal equine joints. An epitope of keratan sulphate (KS) and total glycosaminoglycans (GAG) were measured in synovial fluid samples from joints of 53 horses immediately following humane destruction. Internal examination of the joints post mortem ensured that there was no gross evidence of osteoarthritis or other joint disease. Joints sampled were distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP), tarsometatarsal (TMT), tarsocrural (TC), femoropatellar (FP) and antebrachiocarpal (ABC) joints. The age of each horse was assessed by examination of the te...
Synovial surfactant: lamellar bodies in type B synoviocytes and proteolipid in synovial fluid and the articular lining. Previous studies have shown that synovial surfactant could have beneficial roles in the joint, especially as a very effective boundary lubricant capable of high load bearing. This study is aimed at further characterization and identification of the source. Known to be an important minor component of pulmonary surfactant, proteolipid has now been detected in appreciable quantities in bovine synovial fluid and bound to the articular surface. Using standard procedures to separate it from the major component [surface-active phospholipid (SAPL)] by column chromatography, proteolipid: phospholipid r...
Palmaroproximal approach for arthrocentesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses. 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...
Advances in equine arthroscopy. 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...
Ultrasonographic examination of the femorotibial articulation in horses: imaging of the cranial and caudal aspects. The aim of this study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic features of the cranial and caudal aspects of the femorotibial articulation and, in particular, to establish a method of examining the menisci, cruciate and meniscal ligaments ultrasonographically. Twenty hindlimbs isolated post mortem from 10 horses were used to study the normal ultrasonographic and gross anatomy of the femorotibial joint. Five stifles from 3 normal, live horses were also examined with B-mode, real-time ultrasound imaging. The results of the anatomical study are presented. The joint surfaces, menisci, cruciate...
Apparent viscosity of the synovial fluid from mid-carpal, tibiotarsal, and distal interphalangeal joints of horses. To compare the apparent viscosity of normal synovial fluid of the mid-carpal, tibiotarsal, and interphalangeal joints of horses. Methods: Viscosity evaluation over a range of shear rates was used to characterize the apparent viscosity of synovial fluids from the 3 joints. Methods: 60 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: Viscosity data for synovial fluid samples were obtained over a shear rate range of 10 to 250/s and apparent viscosity was calculated at 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250/s. Effect of shear rate on apparent viscosity was determined, using a two-way ANOVA, with significant differenc...
Effects of pretreatment with ketoprofen and phenylbutazone on experimentally induced synovitis in horses. To compare the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), ketoprofen (2.20 and 3.63 mg/kg of body weight) and phenylbutazone (4.40 mg/kg), in an acute equine synovitis model. Methods: 4 groups of 6 horses received NSAID or saline solution in a randomized design. Methods: 24 clinically normal mares and geldings. Methods: Left intercarpal joints were injected with sterile carrageenan to induce synovitis at the same time as IV administration of NSAID or saline solution. Clinical assessments were made and synovial fluid was withdrawn at 0, 1, 3, 6,...
Estimation of the heritability of lameness in standardbred trotters. The degree of lameness of 265 randomly selected three-year-old standardbred trotters was assessed on a fixed point scale with 0 indicating soundness and 5 indicating that the animals were not weightbearing. Two variables were used to describe the signs of lameness; one was the continuous variable: the sum of the initial lameness score and the lameness scores after separate flexion tests of the carpal, stifle/tarsal and phalangeal joints and the second was the bivariate variable; the ratio of lame/sound horses. The mean (sd) heritability of the continuous variable was estimated to be 0.25 (0.21...
Hyaluronate and large molecular weight proteoglycans in synovial fluid from horses with various arthritides. To investigate the presence of large molecular weight (MW) proteoglycans (PG) and hyaluronate (HA) in synovial fluid (SF) from horses with various arthritides and from control joints. Methods: Horses with acute ( 4 weeks) lameness were examined by clinical examination, intrasynovial anesthesia, radiography, arthroscopy, and SF analysis. Joints were grouped on the basis of diagnosis: acute traumatic arthritis, chronic traumatic arthritis (with a subgroup of degenerative joint disease), intra-articular fracture, and infectious arthritis. Methods: 31 horses with arthritis and 9 control horses; al...
Influence of methylprednisolone acetate on osteochondral healing in exercised tarsocrural joints of horses. 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 ...
Metacarpophalangeal joint synovial pad fibrotic proliferation in 63 horses. Medical records, radiographs, and sonograms of 63 horses with metacarpophalangeal joint synovial pad proliferation were examined retrospectively. All horses had lameness, joint effusion, or both signs associated with one or both metacarpophalangeal joints. Bony remodeling and concavity of the distodorsal aspect of the third metacarpal bone (Mc3) just proximal to the metacarpal condyles was identified by radiography in 71 joints (93%); 24 joints (32%) had radiographic evidence of a chip fracture located at the proximal dorsal aspect of the proximal phalanx. Fifty-four joints (71%) were examined...
Effects of potentiated chlorhexidine on bacteria and tarsocrural joints in ponies. To evaluate the bactericidal properties of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHD) after potentiation with EDTA and Tris buffer (EDTA-Tris), and to find a potentiated CHD concentration that would achieve 90 to 100% killing for all bacteria tested. Methods: 6 adult ponies. Methods: Serial dilutions of CHD, CHD in EDTA-Tris and EDTA-Tris alone were evaluated for bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. The tarsocrural joints of 6 ponies were lavaged with either 1 L phosphate-buffered saline solution (control) or 1 L of 0.0005% CHD in EDTA-Tris...
Inflammatory mediators in equine synovial fluid. Enzyme immunoassay for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and radioimmunoassays for prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were performed on synovial fluid from normal middle carpal joints of 10 horses, and from 30 middle carpal or antebrachiocarpal joints of horses affected by degenerative joint disease and chip fractures to compare the concentrations of inflammatory mediators. Significantly greater concentrations of PGE2 were detected in fluid from affected than from control joints, but there were no significant differences in the mean concentrations of PGF2 ...
Joint pressure influences synovial tissue blood flow as determined by colored microspheres. 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...
Repair and function of synovium after arthroscopic synovectomy of the dorsal compartment of the equine antebrachiocarpal joint. The reparative ability of equine synovium was determined by gross, histological, and ultrastructural examination. The functional potential of the synovium was estimated by examination of synovial cell organelles with transmission electron microscopy. Results from rested and exercised horses were compared to determine the effect of exercise on synovial healing. The response of synovectomized joint to exercise was evaluated with a standardized lameness examination and by gross, histological, and histochemical observations of the articular cartilage. A 7-mm diameter motorized synovial resector wa...
