Anatomical and functional communications between the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint.
Abstract: The anatomical and functional communications of the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint were evaluated in 50 stifle joints of 25 horses. Femoropatellar joint (FPJ) sacs were injected with 50 ml of gelatin-based dye and horses were then walked for 50 m. Horses were subsequently killed, the stifle joints dissected and the location of the dye recorded. Twenty-three horses (46 joints) had clinically normal stifle joints and in this group, anatomical communications of the stifle joints were bilaterally symmetrical in each horse. In 15 of these 23 horses (65 per cent), direct anatomical communication between the FPJ sac and the medial sac of the femorotibial joint (FTJ) was demonstrated. The FPJ sac communicated with both the medial and lateral sacs of the FTJ in four of these 23 horses (17.5 per cent). There were no anatomical communications between the FPJ sac and either sac of the FTJ in the remaining four horses (17.5 per cent). Functional communication, which was established by finding dye in the FTJ sacs were anatomical communication with the FPJ sac existed, was demonstrated in 14 of 19 horses (74 per cent). Two horses were affected with degenerative joint disease of one stifle joint. In both of these joints the FPJ sac communicated with both the medial and lateral FTJ sacs. This distribution was different from that of the contralateral joint. When performing intra-articular anaesthesia of equine stifle joints, each synovial sac needs to be injected separately to ensure that anaesthesia of the appropriate synovial sac is obtained.
Publication Date: 1991-05-01 PubMed ID: 1884705DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02759.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Anatomy
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Intra-Articular Injection
- Local Anaesthesia
- Musculoskeletal System
- Observational Study
- Pathology
- Stifle Joint
- Synovial Fluid
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article investigates the anatomical and functional relationships between the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint, providing insight into their communication and implications for equine health practices.
Methodology
- The research included examination of 50 stifle joints from 25 horses.
- A gelatin-based dye was injected into the femoropatellar joint (FPJ) sacs of the horses, after which they were made to walk a distance of 50 meters.
- Following the activity, the horses were euthanized, the stifle joints dissected, and the location of the dye noted.
Results
- Out of the 25 horses, 23 of them (totaling 46 joints) were found to possess clinically normal stifle joints. The anatomical communication of the stifle joints in each of these horses was noted to be symmetrically identical on both sides.
- A direct anatomical communication between the FPJ sac and the medial sac of the femorotibial joint (FTJ) was demonstrated in 15 of these 23 clinically healthy horses, which equates to 65 percent of the sample.
- In four of these 23 horses (17.5 percent), the FPJ sac had connections with both the medial and lateral sacs of the FTJ. No connections between the FPJ sac and either sac of the FTJ were found in the remaining four horses (17.5 percent).
- In 14 out of 19 horses (74 percent), there was functional communication between the FPJ and FTJ sacs, which was established by locating the dye in FTJ sacs where anatomical connection with FPJ sac existed.
- Two horses showed symptoms of degenerative joint disease in one stifle joint, in which the FPJ sac connected with both the medial and lateral FTJ sacs, a pattern different from that of the other joint.
Implications
- The findings suggest that each synovial sac of the equine stifle joints must be injected separately when administering intra-articular anesthesia. This is crucial to ensure that the appropriate synovial sac receives the anesthesia.
Cite This Article
APA
Reeves MJ, Trotter GW, Kainer RA.
(1991).
Anatomical and functional communications between the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint.
Equine Vet J, 23(3), 215-218.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02759.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / physiopathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Stifle / anatomy & histology
- Stifle / physiology
- Synovial Membrane / anatomy & histology
- Synovial Membrane / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Schöpper H, Egerbacher M. Arterial Blood Supply of the Stifle Joint in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 24;14(9).
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