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.
Wagner AE, McIlwraith CW, Martin GS.Orgotein was injected into the right intercarpal joint of each of 8 horses; the corresponding left joint was left alone (not injected) or was given an injection of normal saline solution. Injection with orgotein caused a transient, marked inflammatory response, evidenced by clinical signs and by increased leukocytes and total protein in the synovia (synovial fluid). Leukocyte numbers and total protein concentration were increased (P less than 0.010) in the orgotein-injected joints within 24 hours. However, saline solution alone also elicited a marked inflammatory response, manifested by increa...
Gunson DE, Kowalczyk DF, Shoop CR, Ramberg CF.Several suspect causes of chronic zinc/cadmium toxicosis in horses near a zinc smelter were investigated following observations of lameness, swollen joints, and unthriftiness, particularly in foals. Two foals born and raised near the smelter were lame and had joint swellings that were attributable to severe generalized osteochondrosis. Zinc and cadmium concentrations were markedly increased in the pancreas, liver, and kidney. The serum of 1 foal, zinc and potassium concentrations were high, whereas calcium and magnesium concentrations were low. Marked nephrocalcinosis and osteoporosis were obs...
McIlwraith CW.Current concepts of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of equine degenerative joint disease are presented on the basis of recently acquired experimental and clinical knowledge. A number of concepts of pathogenesis need modification and the rationale of some of the newer treatments requires definition. Synovitis and other soft tissue changes are important components of the pathogenesis in addition to direct trauma to the articular cartilage. Loss of glycosaminoglycans constitutes an important biochemical "lesion" in the articular cartilage, making it weak and susceptible to trauma. Recognit...
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.A radiographic technique is described for the equine stifle joint with the horse in the standing position or under general anaesthesia. The method with the animal anaesthetised in the dorsal recumbency and the leg extended was preferred because it gave greater flexibility with a better range of views and greatly reduced the safety hazards. In the standing position a useful practical tip for the lateral view was to raise and extent the limb caudally. This provides some flexion and ventral movement of the stifle allowing improved access for the cassette, a more accurate lateral view of the joint...
Tew WP, Hackett RP.Synovial fluids from 72 equine joints were examined for the presence of cartilage debris, and these findings were compared to findings from visual inspection of the articular cartilage surfaces at necropsy. Synovial fluids from 25 joints with visual cartilage damage contained one or more large particles of articular cartilage. Cartilage fragments were not found in synovial fluids from 42 of the 47 apparently normal joints; thus, a correlation may exist between cartilage debris in the synovial fluid and lesions of the articular surfaces.
Nizolek DJ, White KK.Degenerative arthrosis is perhaps the most common debilitating disease of performance horses. Treatment should be based upon a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of normal joints and upon an understanding of the processes of degeneration and repair. These topics are briefly reviewed. Although rest is probably, the most beneficial therapy, physical and pharmaceutical treatments are often employed in an effort to speed recovery. The effects and relative benefits of intrasynovial injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronica cid, and Arteparon are considered in detail. Although local corticoste...
Genetzky RM, Schneider EJ, Butler HC, Guffy MM.Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses, with 2 screws crisscrossing the joint, was compared with arthrodesis achieved by placement of 3 screws crossing the joint parallel to the long axis of the bone. The comparison was made by means of radiography, gross and histologic examinations, and motion evaluation. Additionally, the fused 1st and 2nd phalanges resulting from each method were subjected to breaking forces. Motion evaluation and direct examination of the fused area demonstrated that either procedure can be used to achieve arthrodesis consistently, and the breaking pro...
Sack WO, Orsini PG.One hundred three equine hocks, obtained from the postmortem room, were used to study the communication and injection of material into the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. Excluding the hocks with fused central and 3rd tarsal bones, in 8.3% of hocks injected with low (clinical) pressure and in 23.8% injected with high pressure, the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints communicated by dissection of the material through 2 internal spaces: the tarsal canal and the space between the combined tarsal bones 1 and 2 tarsal bone 3. A "pop" sometimes felt when high pressure was us...
Nyack B, Morgan JP, Pool R, Meagher D.Osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint in the horse was diagnosed radiographically in 54 shoulders of 38 horses. Clinical signs were those of an intermittent lameness characterized as a swinging leg shoulder lameness with pain elicited by extension, flexion or abduction of the limb. Diagnosis of shoulder lameness was supported by blocking the shoulder joint with local anesthetics. Radiographic changes consisted of: (1) alteration in the contour of the humeral head and glenoid cavity, (2) periarticular osteophyte formation, (3) sclerosis of the subchondral bone, and (4) bone cyst formation. The ...
Milde AK.The objective of this study was to establish whether the carpal joints in horses are subject to development of arthrosis to a larger extent than previously assumed. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to clarify whether clinical diagnostical resources presently available are sufficient for accurate evaluation of the status in carpus. The present results show that an analysis of the synovia fluid is of little value in case of chronica arthrosis in carpus. Histilogical examination of the synovia membrane has been of limited value in this cases as it has not been possible to arrive at a definit...
Gingerich DA, Auer JA, Fackelman GE.A single intra-articular injection of 20 or 40 mg of purified hyaluronic acid of rooster comb origin resulted in restoration of normal joint function in horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. The functional improvement, measured by pressure sensitive force plate techniques, was detectable within one week after treatment and persisted throughout a four week experimental period despite continued use of the joints. The response was dose dependent in that injection of 0 (saline), 5 or 10 mg hyaluronic acid per joint space resulted in no significant change in joint function while dosage...
Ekman L, Nilsson G, Persson L, Lumsden JH.A method of determining the volumes of synovia in certain articular cavities in the horse is described. The method is based on the degree of dilution of human serum albumin labelled with I that is injected into the joint. It is shown that uniform distribution of the injected substance is attained within 20 min post injection. The elimination of the labelled substance was found to follow the pattern of a single exponential function. The following volumes of synovia were determined (mean ± s) : hock, 39.8 ± 2.1 ml; radio-carpal, 12.6 ±1.5 ml; intercarpal, 14.9 ± 0.6 ml; foreleg fetlock joint...
Kroneman J, Goedegebuure SA.The clinical and pathomorfological symptoms of a two month's zinc-overload in a foal are described. After an exposure of about two weeks symptoms of unthriftness and increasing stiffness develope. The stiffness is caused by severe intra-articular damage.
Irwin DH.Thirty seven intra-articular injections, each 2 ml sodium hyaluronate were made into 21 arthritic joints in 15 racing Thoroughbreds and one part-bred polo pony. One joint failed to improve at all, 16 became sound with one injection, 4 became sound with 2 injections, and 11 joints showed various degrees of response. Eleven of 14 horses became sound for flat racing. Discussion relates to the technique of using sodium hyaluronate, some clinical and pathological aspects of traumatic arthritis, joint lubrication and a brief review of some properties of sodium hyaluronate which have a bearing on art...
Arnoldi CC, Reimann I, Mortensen S, Christensen SB, Kristoffersen J, Sønnichsen HV, Smith M.Six metacarpo-phalangeal joints of adult horses were studied. Pressure measurements were made in the joint and the metacarpal bone with simultaneous measurement of the systemic arterial blood pressure. Investigations performed to study the effect of joint position on juxta-articular bone marrow pressure showed that an increase in joint flexion was always followed by a rise in intraosseous pressure with a significant increase at flexion above 60 degrees. Increase in intra-articular pressure which was achieved by injection of saline was always followed by a slower rise in intraosseous pressure. ...
van Veenendaal JC, Moffatt RE.Eight cases of sessile, intra-articular soft tissue masses originating from the cranio-dorsal attachment of the capsule of the fetlock joint of horses are presented. In 4 of these cases an osteochondral fracture of the first phalanx was also present. Clinically the condition closely resembled villonodular synovitis; however the microscopic changes did not correspond to those reported. The clinical signs included lameness after exercise, joint effusion and pain on manipulation. The offending masses were surgically resected and their histology indicated a chronic proliferative synovitis. The res...
Owen RR.Physiologic features of the equine diarthrodial joint and the effects of intra-articular corticosteroid therapy were investigated. It was concluded that intra-articular injection of corticosteroids may be beneficial when lesions are confined to soft tissues of the joint, excluding injuries involving joint laxity. Rest following therapy is important.
Auer JA, Fackelman GE, Gingerich DA, Fetter AW.Effect of intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid was evaluated in two groups of horses, using force plates to assess quantitatively the degree of lameness observed. In six horses, chip fractures were created surgically on the dorsomedial aspects of both radial carpal bones. After the horses were trained for 30 days, 40 mg of hyaluronic acid was injected intraarticularly into the limb showing the greater degree of lameness. Horses were worked for 2 more weeks and then were evaluated. A highly significant (P less than 0.01) increase in weight bearing on the treated limb was observed. Ten h...
Torbeck RL, Prieur DJ.Cartilaginous defects were created in the radiocarpal joints of 12 horses. Synovial fluid cytologic features, lysozyme activity, and beta-glucuronidase activity were monitored for 16 days. A comparison was made of plasma lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase activity and of synovial fluid lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase, and leukocyte concentrations. Plasma lysozyme was found to be independent of synovial fluid lysozyme activity. Synovial fluid lysozyme was significantly increased (P less than 0.001) in all joints with surgically induced defects (group I) compared with controls (arthrocentesis done; gr...
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...
Gilbertie JM, Schaer TP, Engiles JB, Seiler GS, Deddens BL, Schubert AG, Jacob ME, Stefanovski D, Ruthel G, Hickok NJ, Stowe DM, Frink A, Schnabel LV.The leading cause of treatment failure in Staphylococcus aureus infections is the development of biofilms. Biofilms are highly tolerant to conventional antibiotics which were developed against planktonic cells. Consequently, there is a lack of antibiofilm agents in the antibiotic development pipeline. To address this problem, we developed a platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-derived biologic, termed BIO-PLY (for the BIOactive fraction of Platelet-rich plasma LYsate) which has potent in vitro bactericidal activity against S. aureus synovial fluid free-floating biofilm aggregates. Additional in vitro st...
Jurek KA, Schoonover MJ, Williams MR, Rudra P.To determine the influence of perfusate volume on synovial fluid amikacin concentrations in the joints of the hind limb after standing saphenous intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP). Methods: Randomized crossover design. Methods: Six adult horses. Methods: Saphenous IVRLP was performed in 6 standing horses with 1 g of amikacin diluted with 0.9% NaCl to volumes of 10 ml, 60 ml, and 120 ml. Samples of synovial fluid from the tarsocrural, metatarsophalangeal, and hind limb distal interphalangeal joints were collected at 15 and 30 min after perfusate administration. Concentrations ...
Shively JA, Van Sickle DC.The scanning electron microscopy of synovial membrane from the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints near the lateral and medial borders of the tendon of the extensor carpi radialis muscle was studied in 5 ponies. Three different morphologic types of synovial membrane were observed. Type 1 synovial membrane was folded and had a surface mat of fibers separated by 1- to 5-micron-diameter holes. The 2nd and 3rd types of synovial membrane were both villous. The surface of type 2 synovial membrane was fibrillar but the surface of type 3 synovial membrane was cellular. The type of synovial membrane pre...
Pujol R, Girard CA, Richard H, Hassanpour I, Binette MP, Beauchamp G, McDougall JJ, Laverty S.To measure the nerve fiber density in synovial membranes from healthy and OA equine joints and to investigate the relationship between synovial innervation and OA severity, synovial vascularity and synovitis. Twenty-five equine metacarpophalangeal joints were collected post-mortem. The joints were dissected and the macroscopic lesions of the articular cartilage were scored. Synovial membrane specimens (n = 50) were harvested, fixed, sectioned and scored histologically. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence with S-100 protein, that identifies nerve fibers, and ⍺-actin, that st...
Steel CM, Hunt AR, Adams PL, Robertson ID, Chicken C, Yovich JV, Stick JA.To identify factors affecting the prognosis for survival and athletic use in foals with septic arthritis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 93 foals with septic arthritis. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical findings, laboratory test results, radiographic findings, treatment method, and outcome. Race records for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds were evaluated to determine whether foals subsequently raced and whether they raced successfully. Results: 43 foals had 1 affected joint, 44 foals had multiple affected joints, and number of affected joints was not recorded for...
Carmalt JL, Bell CD, Panizzi L, Wolker RR, Lanovaz JL, Bracamonte JL, Wilson DG.To assess the safety and efficacy of alcohol-facilitated ankylosis of the distal intertarsal (DIT) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints in horses with osteoarthritis (bone spavin). Methods: Prospective clinical trial. Methods: 21 horses with DIT or TMT joint-associated hind limb lameness and 5 nonlame horses. Methods: 11 horses (group 1) underwent lameness, force-plate, and radiographic examinations; following intra-articular analgesia, lameness and force-plate examinations were repeated. Nonlame horses were used for force-plate data acquisition only. Following localization of lameness to the DIT ...
Viitanen MJ, Wilson AM, McGuigan HR, Rogers KD, May SA.Increased joint pressure has been implicated in the progression of osteoarthritis. Objective: That intra-articular pressure in the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) is significantly higher in legs loaded with heel up (HU), low heel (TU), lateral side up (LU) and medial side up (MU) imbalance compared to the balanced position. Methods: Twelve elbow down limbs were compressed in a hydraulic loading jig and DIP pressure measured. Results: Elevating the heels by 5 degrees significantly increased DIP pressure. After 5 ml of contrast was injected into the joint, heel elevation caused a greater incr...
Crevier-Denoix N, Roosen C, Dardillat C, Pourcelot P, Jerbi H, Sanaa M, Denoix JM.Five sound mature horses, age 8-14 years, with toe angles 45.5-55.0 degrees were placed on a specially designed platform with only the left forelimb weightbearing, which allowed the successive production of 7 different conditions of foot orientation: neutral position (N), 5, 10, 15 degrees heel (H5, H10, H15) and toe (T5, T10, T15) elevation, performed according to 2 different sequences. For each condition, 2 lateromedial radiographs were taken to evaluate the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) and both interphalangeal joint (PIPJ and DIPJ) angles, respectively. In addition, two-dimensional (2-D)...
In horses, osteoarthritis (OA) mostly affects metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) joints. The current modalities used for diagnosis of equine limb disorders lack ability to detect early OA. Here, we propose a new alternative approach to assess experimental cartilage damage in fetlock joint using Acoustic Emissions (AE). Objective: To evaluate the potential of AE technique in diagnosing OA and see how AE signals changes with increasing severity of OA. Methods: An in vitro experimental study. Methods: A total of 16 distal limbs (8 forelimbs and 8 hindlimbs) from six Finn horses...
Honnas CM, Zamos DT, Ford TS.An arthroscopic procedure for examination of the coxofemoral joint was developed in nine foals (four cadavers, five anesthetized) to determine if access was sufficient for evaluation and surgical treatment of intra-articular lesions. The joint was distended and the arthroscope inserted through the notch (incisura trochanterica) between the cranial and caudal parts of the greater trochanter. This portal allowed examination of the cranial, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint. Mechanical distraction of the joint through an instrument portal located 2 to 4 cm cranial and 1 to 2 cm ventral to ...
Frisbie DD, Kisiday JD, Kawcak CE, Werpy NM, McIlwraith CW.The purpose of this study was the assessment of clinical, biochemical, and histologic effects of intraarticular administered adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was induced arthroscopically in the middle carpal joint of all horses, the contralateral joint being sham-operated. All horses received treatment on Day 14. Eight horses received placebo treatment and eight horses received adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in their osteoarthritis-affected joint. The final eight horses were treate...
Mereu M, Hawkes C, Cuddy LC, Perez Olmos JF, Pazzola M, McNally TP.To describe a dorsoproximal midline (DPM) standing technique for proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) injection and to compare it to established dorsolateral flexed (DLF), palmaroproximal (PP), and dorsolateral standing (DLS) techniques. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: Sixty cadaver equine thoracic limbs. Methods: Limbs were divided into four groups (n = 15 each group), DLF, DPM, PP, and DLS. For each technique, three operators injected radiopaque contrast and methylene blue into the PIPJ in five limbs. The number of attempts required was recorded. Successful injection was confirmed by radio...
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...
Bertone AL, Davis DM, Cox HU, Kamerling SS, Roberts ED, Caprile KA, Gossett KA.To evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and histologic effects of 2 methods of treatment for infectious arthritis in horses, Staphylococcus aureus (3.4 to 3.9 x 10(3) colony-forming units) was inoculated into the tarsocrural joints of 8 horses on day 0. Each horse was treated with phenylbutazone (2 g, PO, q 24 h) and gentamicin sulfate (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 8 h) for 14 days. On day 2, general anesthesia was induced, and each horse had 1 tarsocrural joint treated by arthrotomy, with removal of accessible fibrin and lavage with 3 L of sterile balanced electrolyte solution. An indwelling...
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 ...
Preston SA, Trumble TN, Zimmel DN, Chmielewski TL, Brown MP, Hernandez JA.To characterize lameness during training and compare exercise variables and financial returns among yearling Thoroughbreds that were bought for the purpose of resale for profit. Methods: 40 yearling Thoroughbreds. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: Horses purchased at yearling sales (summer 2004) were trained prior to resale at 2-year-olds in training sales (spring 2005). Horses were monitored daily for diagnosis and treatment of lameness during training. Selected variables, including sex, age, purchase price, lameness, distance (No. of furlongs) galloped during training, and financial retur...
Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK.To describe the surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies (LBs) from the cervical articular process joints (APJs) in five horses and to describe the outcome of the surgery. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Five client-owned horses with naturally occurring LBs within the cervical APJs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed of horses that were diagnosed with LBs of the cervical APJs on computed tomography (CT), where the LBs were subsequently removed surgically. Details of case selection and surgical technique were reviewed along with postoperative complications and clinical outcome....
Goff L.This article provides the equine practitioner with a review of sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction and outlines the importance of providing a specific prescription for a safe and effective therapeutic exercise program. The continuum of clinical dysfunction associated with the sacroiliac region is presented with prescribed interventions. The intent is to encourage the practitioner to perform a thorough assessment of the sacroiliac joint and the adjacent soft tissues and to use sound clinical reasoning to formulate a therapeutic exercise plan.
Honnas CM, Schumacher J, Kuesis BS.A 6-month-old 300-kg Quarter Horse filly was treated for septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint and septic navicular bursitis that developed as a result of a deep puncture to the foot. Initial treatment consisted of establishing ventral drainage for the navicular bursa, lavage of the distal interphalangeal joint, and administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Because of continuing sepsis in the distal interphalangeal joint, subsequent treatment included packing the defect in the bottom of the foot with cancellous bone in an att...
van den Boom R, Brama PA, Kiers GH, de Groot J, van Weeren PR.To assess the effects of age and joint disease on hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations in synovial fluid from the metacarpophalangeal joint of horses and evaluate the association of those concentrations with severity of osteoarthritis and general matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Methods: Synovial fluid was collected from the metacarpophalangeal joints of foals at birth (n = 10), 5-month-old foals (10), 11-month-old foals (5), and adult horses (73). Methods: Hydroxyproline and GAG concentrations were determined in synovial fluid samples. The severity of osteoarthrit...
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 ...
Compagnie E, Drumm NJ, de Heer N, ter Braake F.To describe an alternative technique and resulting outcomes for arthroscopic removal of osteochondral (OC) fragments from the proximal intertarsal joint (PIJ) using a direct approach without resection of the membrane between the tarsocrural joint (TCJ) and the PIJ. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Client owned horses (n = 11) with Category 1 OC fragments in the PIJ. Methods: Arthroscopic examination of the dorsal pouch of the TCJ was performed with horses positioned in dorsal recumbency using routine portals. A hook probe placed through one of the standard portals was used to l...
van den Boom R, van de Lest CH, Bull S, Brama RA, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A.The importance of osteoarthritis (OA) in the horse and the difficulty in its early diagnosis have led to a search for potential biomarkers of joint disease. If the levels of such markers are to be interpreted accurately, clinicians and researchers need to know whether they are influenced by environmental factors and/or interventions such as exercise and repeated arthrocentesis. Objective: To investigate the influence of repeated arthrocentesis and exercise on nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) from normal equine joints. ...
Jacobsen S, Mortensen CD, Høj EA, Vinther AM, Berg LC, Adler DMT, Verwilghen D, van Galen G.Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been suggested to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of joint infection in humans. The aim of the study was to investigate NGAL concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) from horses with septic synovitis, horses without septic synovitis, and horses with uncertain status. NGAL was measured in 177 admission samples obtained from 152 horses. From a subset of horses ( = 35), additional samples obtained sequentially over the course of treatment were available. Concentrations of NGAL were significantly higher in septic synovitis ( = 47 samples...
Krause DM, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Hendrickson DA.Frequency of synovial sepsis in horses following intrasynovial injection has been reported, but not compared with respect to the environment in which the injection was performed. Objective: To describe occurrence of synovial sepsis following intrasynovial injections performed in ambulatory vs hospital settings. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records from the Colorado State University were evaluated (2014-2018) and horses receiving intrasynovial injections were identified. Patients presenting for septic synovial structures were excluded. Patient signalment, primary supervising se...
Ramos S, Pinto A, Crespo J, Marques JP, Bettencourt E, Gama LT, Monteiro S.Osteochondrosis (osteochondritis dissecans), OC(D), is an important joint disorder that has been studied through the years in different breeds but, to our knowledge, there are no reports of its prevalence in Lusitano horses. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OC(D) in Lusitanos, define the characteristics of the disorder in this breed and compare with Spanish Purebred horses. This is a retrospective study that analysed the radiographs from the metacarpometatarsophalangeal, tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints that were taken in 302 Lusitano horses (1-12 years; obtained from...
Jones DL, Barber SM, Doige CE.Changes in synovial fluid and clinical variables after arthroscopic partial synovectomy of the middle carpal joint were studied in 12 normal horses. A 7 mm motorized synovial resector was inserted into each middle carpal joint; one middle carpal joint of each horse was randomly selected to have arthroscopic synovectomy (treated) and the opposite joint was lavaged (control). Lameness examinations and synovial fluid analyses were performed before operation and at 8, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation. Lameness variables did not differ between treated and control legs. Middle carpal and carpomet...
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...
Berg LC, Mata X, Thomsen PD.Cartilage-derived retinoic acid sensitive protein (CD-RAP) also known as melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) has already been established as a marker for chondrocyte differentiation and a number of cancerous conditions in humans. Studies have also shown that CD-RAP/MIA is a potential marker of joint disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the equine CD-RAP/MIA gene and thus make it available as a marker in cartilage research and clinical studies. Gene analysis revealed that the equine gene (GenBank accession no. EF679787) consists of four exons and three introns, and the homolo...
