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Equine veterinary journal1992; 24(6); 436-442; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02873.x

A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis.

Abstract: The medical records of 192 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis 1979-1989 were reviewed. Forty-three horses developed infection after an intra-articular injection, 46 following a penetrating wound, 25 following surgery, 66 were foals less than 6 months old, and 12 were adult horses without a known aetiology. Haematogenous infection of a joint occurs in adult horses and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with an acute onset of severe lameness. The aetiology of the infection had a significant effect on the type of bacteria identified by culture. Staphylococcus was cultured from most of the horses that developed infection following a joint injection or surgery, 69% of the horses from which an organism was identified. Horses that developed infection secondary to a penetrating wound frequently provided cultures of more than one organism; Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes were more frequently isolated in this group. The most common organisms isolated from foals were Enterobacteriaceae; E. coli was identified in more than 27% of the foals. The hock was the most frequently involved joint. Multiple treatments were used over the 10-year period of study. Survival rates were lowest in foals; only 45% survived to be released from the hospital. Survival was greater in adult horses; 85% of the horses that were treated were released from the hospital. Survival was significantly greater in horses with septic tenosynovitis; all 14 of the horses that were treated survived. Survival was not significantly affected by the joint involved or by the type of bacteria cultured from the synovial fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Publication Date: 1992-11-01 PubMed ID: 1459056DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02873.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study analyses 10 years of medical records for 192 horses that were diagnosed with septic arthritis or tenosynovitis. The results indicate various factors including the way infection was acquired, the type of bacteria involved, and the treatment methods used, affect the survival rates of both adult horses and foals.

Study Methodology and Demographics

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective examination of medical records belonging to 192 horses with septic arthritis or tenosynovitis over a span of 10 years (1979-1989).
  • The horses were categorized based on how they developed the infection. These categories were those who developed it after an intra-articular injection, as a result of a penetrating wound, following a surgery, foals under 6 months of age, and adult horses with unknown etiology.

Type and Source of Infection

  • The study demonstrated a significant correlation between the method of infection and the type of bacteria identified by culture.
  • Staphylococcus bacteria were commonly found in horses that developed infections after a joint injection or surgery. It accounted for 69% of identified organisms.
  • For horses with infections stemming from penetrating wounds, cultures often contained multiple organisms. In this group, Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes were isolated more frequently.
  • The most common organisms identified from foals were from the Enterobacteriaceae family, with E. coli identified in over 27% of the cases.
  • The hock joint was the most frequently affected area.

Treatments and Survival Rates

  • Various treatments were employed over the course of the 10-year study period.
  • The study found that survival rates were lowest in foals, with only 45% getting discharged from the hospital. In contrast, survival rates were higher in adult horses, with 85% of treated horses being released.
  • The survival rate was notably higher in horses with septic tenosynovitis, a condition in which the tissue lining the tendons becomes infected. All 14 horses from this group survived.
  • The study concluded that survival rates were not significantly influenced by the type of joint involved or the type of bacteria cultured from the synovial fluid.

Cite This Article

APA
Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Moore RM, Mecklenburg LM, Kohn CW, Gabel AA. (1992). A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. Equine Vet J, 24(6), 436-442. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02873.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 6
Pages: 436-442

Researcher Affiliations

Schneider, R K
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Bramlage, L R
    Moore, R M
      Mecklenburg, L M
        Kohn, C W
          Gabel, A A

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
            • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis
            • Arthritis, Infectious / microbiology
            • Arthritis, Infectious / therapy
            • Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
            • Carpus, Animal
            • Debridement
            • Drainage / veterinary
            • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / diagnosis
            • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
            • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / therapy
            • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / veterinary
            • Female
            • Follow-Up Studies
            • Hindlimb
            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
            • Horse Diseases / microbiology
            • Horse Diseases / therapy
            • Horses
            • Leukocyte Count / veterinary
            • Male
            • Retrospective Studies
            • Tenosynovitis / diagnosis
            • Tenosynovitis / microbiology
            • Tenosynovitis / therapy
            • Tenosynovitis / veterinary
            • Therapeutic Irrigation / veterinary
            • Treatment Outcome

            Citations

            This article has been cited 35 times.
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