Evaluation of a balloon constant rate infusion system for treatment of septic arthritis, septic tenosynovitis, and contaminated synovial wounds: 23 cases (2002-2005).

This study investigated the effectiveness of a balloon constant rate infusion system in treating horses with septic arthritis, septic tenosynovitis, or contaminated synovial wounds. The findings suggest this method can be used effectively, delivering comparable results to other treatment techniques.

Objective and Design

The main objective of this study was to determine the clinical findings and outcomes of horses treated with a balloon constant rate infusion system for septic arthritis, septic tenosynovitis and contaminated synovial wounds. This was a retrospective case series and the subjects were horses specifically treated at The Ohio State University veterinary teaching hospital.

• The design of the study was a retrospective case series.
• The subjects of the study were 23 horses examined at the veterinary hospital from 2002-2005.

Procedures and Results

The procedures involved in this study included scrutinizing medical records of horses based on specific criteria. Certain information including history, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic data, treatment, and duration of hospitalization was recorded.

• Data was collected from the medical records of horses that had the mentioned conditions and were treated using the balloon constant rate infusion system.
• The results of the study indicated that the average hospitalization duration was approximately 11.5 days.
• There was no correlation identified between the duration of clinical signs and the duration of hospitalization or use of infusion pump.
• However, correlations were found between White Blood Cell (WBC) count and hospitalization duration, and between WBC count and the duration of infusion pump use.

Outcomes and Conclusion

The treatment proved to be effective with all horses surviving to discharge. Out of 17 horses for which follow-up data was obtained, 16 were still alive at the time, and 13 were reported by their owners as not lame.

• All the horses in the study survived to be discharged from the hospital
• Follow-up information was obtained for 17 out of 23 horses, 16 of which were alive at the time of follow-up.
• Of these, 12 out of 13 horses were still alive 5 months after being discharged.
• At follow-up, 13 out of 16 horses were reported by the owners as not lame, while the remaining were either mildly lame, intermittently moderately lame or had developed an angular limb deformity.

The study concluded that balloon constant rate infusion systems can potentially be used effectively in the treatment of septic arthritis, septic tenosynovitis, and contaminated synovial wounds in horses. The clinical response and long-term outcome of this treatment method appeared to be on par with other techniques.