Lameness due to pain associated with the distal interphalangeal joint: 45 cases.
Abstract: This paper describes the clinical and radiographic features, and response to treatment, of 45 horses which showed lameness that was improved by intra-articular anaesthesia of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. Although many horses had poor conformation of the foot of the lame limb, the majority showed no localising clinical signs suggestive of involvement of the DIP joint. Lameness was usually unilateral. No horse with bilateral lameness responded to treatment. Palmar digital nerve blocks frequently improved or alleviated lameness, although in some horses palmar (abaxial sesamoid) nerve blocks were required to eliminate lameness. This difference in response did not affect response to treatment. Intra-articular anaesthesia of the DIP joint usually resulted in resolution of lameness within 5 mins; a partial improvement in lameness or a slow response were poor prognostic indicators. None of the horses had radiographic abnormalities compatible with navicular disease. Radiographic changes of the distal interphalangeal joint per se were generally detectable only in lateromedial views and were identified in less than one third of the horses. Success rates were low following treatment of cases with radiographic abnormalities. In those with no radiographic abnormalities the response to corrective trimming and shoeing and intra-articular administration of sodium hyaluronate, once or repeatedly, was variable and no parameters could be used to predict the likely outcome. Treatment was successful in approximately 30 per cent of cases. Subsequent treatment of horses which remained lame, by intra-articular administration of polysulphated glycosaminoglycans, was not helpful; only a small proportion became sound following prolonged (nine months) rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1991-03-01 PubMed ID: 2044506DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02737.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study presents a comprehensive examination of 45 horses that exhibited lameness that responded to anesthetic treatment of the painful distal interphalangeal joint, outlining the clinical and radiographic characteristics of the cases as well as their reactions to treatment methods.
Key Findings
- The research looked at lameness linked to discomfort in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, which was improved through intra-articular anaesthesia. Lameness was typically unilateral, and treatments didn’t work for cases involving bilateral lameness.
- Even though several horses possessed poor limb foot conformation, the majority did not present local clinical signs that would suggest DIP joint involvement.
- Palmar digital nerve blocks often mitigated or eliminated lameness. However, some horses needed palmar nerve blocks to completely get rid of lameness. The difference in response did not impact the treatment results.
Signs and Diagnostics
- After intra-articular anaesthesia of the DIP joint, lameness usually ceased within 5 minutes. A disease prognosis tends to be poor when lameness only partially improves or response is slow after this treatment.
- All the horses lacked radiographic signs consistent with navicular disease. Radiographic changes in the DIP joint, if present, were usually only visible in lateromedial views and were found in less than a third of the horses.
Treatment and Outcomes
- The success rate was low when treating cases that had radiographic abnormalities. In horses with no detectable radiographic changes, the response to corrective trimming and shoeing and the intra-articular application of sodium hyaluronate was inconsistent. There were no clear indicators that could predict the treatment outcomes.
- Only about 30 per cent of the horses responded positively to the treatments. Further treatment of those that remained lame did not prove beneficial, even after intra-articular administration of polysulphated glycosaminoglycans or lengthy resting periods of up to nine months.
Cite This Article
APA
Dyson SJ.
(1991).
Lameness due to pain associated with the distal interphalangeal joint: 45 cases.
Equine Vet J, 23(2), 128-135.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb02737.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / complications
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / therapy
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / therapy
- Nerve Block / veterinary
- Pain / veterinary
- Pain Management
- Radiography
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- van Zadelhoff C, Schwarz T, Smith S, Engerand A, Taylor S. Identification of Naturally Occurring Cartilage Damage in the Equine Distal Interphalangeal Joint Using Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Arthrography. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:508.
- Warnock WR, Marsh CA, Hand DR. Outcome of arthroscopic debridement of cartilage injury in the equine distal interphalangeal joint. Can Vet J 2019 Jul;60(7):731-736.
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