Diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis.
Abstract: Septic arthritis (SA) is a common orthopedic condition encountered in horses that are presented to equine veterinarians. Successful out-come is dependent on prompt and thorough evaluation and treatment. This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology, outlines diagnostics, describes treatment options and prognostics, and discusses current research in diagnosis and treatment of SA.
Publication Date: 2005-11-22 PubMed ID: 16297725DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2005.08.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article focuses on understanding the condition known as septic arthritis (SA) found in horses and emphasizes on its prompt diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for a successful result.
Objective of the Research
- The main goal of this research paper is to provide a detailed understanding of septic arthritis in horses. It aims to guide equine veterinarians on the pathophysiology of SA, the diagnostic methods, treatment options, and prognosis. It also sheds light on the latest research in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Understanding Septic Arthritis (SA)
- This condition is prevalent in horses and is a common issue that veterinarians specializing in equines face. SA occurs when a joint becomes infected with microbial agents leading to inflammation. This can cause immense pain, swelling, and can limit the mobility of the horse. In severe cases, it can lead to the destruction of the joint cartilage and potentially threaten the life of the animal if not treated promptly.
Pathophysiology of SA
- The paper briefly reviews the pathophysiology of SA in horses, which essentially deals with understanding how the condition develops and progresses on a physiological level. Understanding the pathophysiology is crucial for developing effective diagnosis and treatment methods.
Diagnostic Methods
- Early diagnosis of SA is extremely critical for an effective treatment and prognosis. The paper outlines the diagnostic methods used to identify SA in horses, including, but not limited to, physical examination, blood tests, and synovial fluid analysis. Advanced diagnostic techniques such as imaging modalities could also be used for the accurate detection of the disease.
Treatment Options and Prognosis
- The study describes various treatment choices for SA. These notably include administration of suitable antibiotics, drainage of the infected joint, and in severe cases, surgical intervention. Multiple factors influence the selection of treatment, including the stage of the disease, the overall health condition of the horse, and the resources available.
- Prognosis refers to assessing the likely course and outcome of the disease. An essential aspect of effective treatment is understanding the animal’s chances of recovery, the duration of recovery, and anticipating possible complications. The paper outlines this for SA in horses, underlining the importance of timely and comprehensive treatment.
Current Research in Diagnosis and Treatment of SA
- The paper goes on to discuss the ongoing research in the field of diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis. This signifies the continued efforts of the scientific community towards finding reliable and efficient ways to diagnose and manage SA in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Morton AJ.
(2005).
Diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 21(3), 627-vi.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2005.08.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 100136, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. mortona@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis
- Arthritis, Infectious / drug therapy
- Arthritis, Infectious / surgery
- Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Physical Examination / veterinary
- Synovial Fluid / chemistry
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Zhao N, Curry D, Evans RE, Isguven S, Freeman T, Eisenbrey JR, Forsberg F, Gilbertie JM, Boorman S, Hilliard R, Dastgheyb SS, Machado P, Stanczak M, Harwood M, Chen AF, Parvizi J, Shapiro IM, Hickok NJ, Schaer TP. Microbubble cavitation restores Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic susceptibility in vitro and in a septic arthritis model. Commun Biol 2023 Apr 17;6(1):425.
- Vajs T, Nekouei O, Biermann NM. A Descriptive Study of the Clinical Presentation, Management, and Outcome of Horses with Acute Soft Tissue Trauma of the Tarsus and the Association with Synovial Involvement. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 21;12(4).
- Krause DM, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Hendrickson DA. Comparison of equine synovial sepsis rate following intrasynovial injection in ambulatory versus hospital settings. Equine Vet J 2022 May;54(3):523-530.
- Pezzanite L, Chow L, Hendrickson D, Gustafson DL, Russell Moore A, Stoneback J, Griffenhagen GM, Piquini G, Phillips J, Lunghofer P, Dow S, Goodrich LR. Evaluation of Intra-Articular Amikacin Administration in an Equine Non-inflammatory Joint Model to Identify Effective Bactericidal Concentrations While Minimizing Cytotoxicity. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:676774.
- Haralambus R, Florczyk A, Sigl E, Gültekin S, Vogl C, Brandt S, Schnierer M, Gamerith C, Jenner F. Detection of synovial sepsis in horses using enzymes as biomarkers. Equine Vet J 2022 May;54(3):513-522.
- Yoshimura S, Koziy RV, Dickinson R, Moshynskyy I, McKenzie JA, Simko E, Bracamonte JL. Use of serum amyloid A in serum and synovial fluid to detect eradication of infection in experimental septic arthritis in horses. Can J Vet Res 2020 Jul;84(3):198-204.
- Gilbertie JM, Schaer TP, Schubert AG, Jacob ME, Menegatti S, Ashton Lavoie R, Schnabel LV. Platelet-rich plasma lysate displays antibiofilm properties and restores antimicrobial activity against synovial fluid biofilms in vitro. J Orthop Res 2020 Jun;38(6):1365-1374.
- Gilbertie JM, Schnabel LV, Hickok NJ, Jacob ME, Conlon BP, Shapiro IM, Parvizi J, Schaer TP. Equine or porcine synovial fluid as a novel ex vivo model for the study of bacterial free-floating biofilms that form in human joint infections. PLoS One 2019;14(8):e0221012.
- Bertoni L, Branly T, Jacquet S, Desancé M, Desquilbet L, Rivory P, Hartmann DJ, Denoix JM, Audigié F, Galéra P, Demoor M. Intra-Articular Injection of 2 Different Dosages of Autologous and Allogeneic Bone Marrow- and Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Triggers a Variable Inflammatory Response of the Fetlock Joint on 12 Sound Experimental Horses. Stem Cells Int 2019;2019:9431894.
- Siengdee P, Pradit W, Chomdej S, Nganvongpanit K. Determination of two fluoroquinolones and their combinations with hyaluronan effect in in vitro canine cartilage explants. PeerJ 2019;7:e6553.
- Achard D, Francoz D, Desrochers A, Girard C, Piché C. Synovitis induced by joint lavage with hypertonic saline solutions in healthy dairy calves. Can J Vet Res 2012 Apr;76(2):81-90.
- Albanese V, Straticò P, Fischer H, Petrizzi L. Equine Distal Limb Wounds: Economic Impact and Short-Term Prognosis of Non-Synovial Versus Synovial Lesions in Southern Germany. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 1;12(3).
- Koziy RV, Katselis GS, Yoshimura S, Simko E, Bracamonte JL. Temporal kinetics of serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration and identification of SAA isoforms in blood and synovial fluid of horses with experimentally induced septic arthritis, non-septic synovitis, and systemic inflammation. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Jan;37(1):42-54.
- Bundgaard L, Årman F, Åhrman E, Walters M, Auf dem Keller U, Malmström J, Jacobsen S. An Equine Protein Atlas Highlights Synovial Fluid Proteome Dynamics during Experimentally LPS-Induced Arthritis. J Proteome Res 2024 Nov 1;23(11):4849-4863.
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Paegelow JL, Schoonover MJ, Young JM, Maxwell LK, Taylor JD, Gilliam LL, Holbrook TC. Pharmacokinetics of amikacin after intravenous, intra-articular, and combined intravenous and intra-articular administration in healthy neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1825-1834.
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