Evaluation of ethyl alcohol for use in a minimally invasive technique for equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis.

The abstract discusses a study conducted on healthy horses to examine if ethyl alcohol, either used alone or in conjunction with screws, can lead to the fusion of the equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, which is a joint in the horse’s leg. However, the research establishes that this method was not consistently successful.

Research Details

The study involved six healthy horses, aged between 1.5 and 3 years, without any lameness issues. The subjects were diagonally paired front and hind PIP joints.

• The horses were first administered with six milliliters of 70% ethyl alcohol directly into the chosen PIP joints. The selection of the joints to be injected was made randomly.
• Post thirty days from the alcohol injection, two parallel 5.5mm cortical screws were inserted in a lag fashion across the hind PIP joints and the limbs were cast.
• After the casting, horses were confined for 60 days before they were allowed free exercise.

Monitoring and Assessment

The horses were subjected to regular lameness examinations at intervals of 1 month, 6 months, and 10 months post the procedures.

• Radiographs were used to obtain images of the PIP joints before the alcohol injections, and then at intervals of 6 and 10 months for front PIP joints and 1, 3, 6, and 10 months for hind PIP joints.
• After the completion of 10 months, the horses were euthanized and both gross and histopathologic examinations of the treated joints were performed to assess the impacts.

Results and Conclusion

The results revealed that the horses experienced variable cartilage thinning, which was more severe in the hind PIP joints. They also developed dorsal bone proliferation. Out of all, only two joints, one front and one hind PIP joint, were fused 10 months post the alcohol injection. From these outcomes, the research concludes that the injection of ethyl alcohol, either used alone or combined with screws, failed to consistently cause the fusion of the PIP joint.