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Irish veterinary journal2008; 61(2); 102-106; doi: 10.1186/2046-0481-61-2-102

Analysis of factors influencing prognosis in foals with septic arthritis.

Vos, NJ
·
Ducharme, NG

Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to identify factors that would positively or negatively affect the short-term survival rate of foals with septic arthritis. Medical records of 81 foals (≤seven months of age) with a clinical diagnosis of septic arthritis, referred to the equine hospital at Cornell University Hospital for Animals, between 1994 and 2003 were reviewed. Signalment, age at presentation, number of affected joints, joint fluid parameters, bacterial agents, treatment modalities and year of treatment were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors. Sixty-two of 81 foals (77%) were discharged from the hospital and classified as 'survivors'. Multiple joint involvement and detection of intra-articular Gram-negative, mixed bacterial infection and degenerate neutrophils were negatively associated with short-term survival. Initiation of treatment within 24 hrs of onset of clinical signs and combination of treatment modalities were positively correlated with survival. Further investigation is needed to determine if these two factors have a similar influence on athletic performance.

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Publication Date: 2008-02-01 PubMed ID: 21851707PubMed Central: PMC3113883DOI: 10.1186/2046-0481-61-2-102Google Scholar: Lookup

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Summary

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The research article discusses the factors that can impact the short-term survival rate of young horses (foals) suffering from septic arthritis, by reviewing medical records and comparing treatment outcomes.

Study Design and Sample

The study was designed with a retrospective approach, examining previously collected medical records of 81 foals that were seven months old or younger. These foals were all diagnosed with septic arthritis, a severe and potentially fatal infection of the joints.
The records were obtained from the equine hospital at Cornell University Hospital for Animals and spanned from 1994 to 2003.
Different variables such as the foals’ signalment (species, breed, age, and sex), age at presentation, number of affected joints, joint fluid parameters, detected bacterial agents, treatment methods, and year of treatment were thoroughly examined.

Results and Findings

Out of the 81 foals, 62, which accounts for 77%, survived the infection and were subsequently discharged from the hospital.
Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared to identify the factors influencing survival.
The study found that multiple joint involvement and detection of intra-articular Gram-negative, mixed bacterial infection and degenerate neutrophils—immune cells that fight off infection but can indicate an overwhelming infection if they are abnormally formed or excessively present—were all negatively related to short-term survival.
On the other hand, starting treatment within the first 24 hours of clinical signs and combining multiple treatment methods were positively correlated with survival.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The study concludes substantial evidence indicating that prompt treatment and multifaceted treatment modalities can boost the short-term survival rates of foals with septic arthritis.
However, the research also identified areas with adverse effects such as intra-joint infections, multiple joints involvement, and degenerate neutrophils.
The authors suggest that further studies are needed to understand whether these survival influencing factors also affect the foals’ athletic performance in the long run.

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APA

Vos NJ, Ducharme NG. (2008). Analysis of factors influencing prognosis in foals with septic arthritis. Ir Vet J, 61(2), 102-106. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-0481-61-2-102

Publication

Irish veterinary journal

ISSN: 0368-0762

NlmUniqueID: 0100762

Country: Ireland

Language: English

Volume: 61

Issue: 2

Pages: 102-106

Researcher Affiliations

Vos, Nicolas J

Unit of Veterinary Surgery, University Veterinary Hospital, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. nvos@mail.usyd.edu.au.

Ducharme, Norm G

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.

Jacobsen S, Mortensen CD, Hu00f8j EA, Vinther AM, Berg LC, Adler DMT, Verwilghen D, van Galen G. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Synovial Fluid from Horses with and without Septic Arthritis.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 21;13(1).
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Crosby DE, Labens R, Hughes KJ, Nielsen S, Hilbert BJ. Factors Associated With Survival and Return to Function Following Synovial Infections in Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:367.
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