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Open joint injuries in horses: 58 cases (1980-1986).
Abstract: A retrospective study was made of 58 horses with open joint injuries admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital. Twenty-five (43%) were admitted within 24 hours of injury, 15 (26%) were examined 2 to 7 days after injury, and 18 (31%) were evaluated a week or more after the initial injury. The joints of the lower portions of the limbs most commonly were affected, with injuries that varied from puncture wounds to severe lacerations with soft tissue deficits. Diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical signs and results of synovial fluid analysis and radiography. Radiography was found to be an important diagnostic tool, indicating joint involvement in 80% of horses on which it was done. Sixteen horses were euthanatized on the day of admission; of the horses treated, 53% that were examined within the first 24 hours developed septic arthritis, and the overall survival was 65%. Ninety-two percent of horses examined within 2 to 7 days of injury developed septic arthritis, with 38.5% surviving; all horses evaluated a week or more after joint injury had septic arthritis, and 50% survived. The prognosis for return to function was best in horses that were examined within the first 24 hours. Horses examined more than 24 hours after injury had a significantly (P less than 0.05) higher chance of developing septic arthritis, and thus, were significantly (P less than 0.0014) less likely to survive the injury.
Publication Date: 1989-02-01 PubMed ID: 2917911 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study was done on 58 horses with open joint injuries that were admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital. The results showed that the prognosis for return to function was best for horses seen within 24 hours of the injury and those examined after 24 hours had a significantly higher chance of developing septic arthritis and lower survival chances.
Details of the Study
- The study undertaken was retrospective in nature, looking back at cases of horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital with open joint injuries. The timeline of the injuries varied from being admitted within 24 hours of injury, 2 to 7 days after, and a week or more after the initial injury.
- Most injuries affected lower limb joints and varied in severity: from puncture wounds to severe lacerations with soft tissue deficits.
- The method of diagnosis involved observing clinical signs and synovial fluid analysis, and employing radiography which proved an important diagnostic tool, indicating joint involvement in 80% instances.
Key Findings
- Out of the total sample, 16 horses were euthanized on the day of admission. Of the horses treated, 53% examined within the first 24 hours developed septic arthritis, 92% examined within 2 to 7 days developed it, while all horses evaluated a week or more after joint injury developed septic arthritis.
- In terms of survival rates, overall survival was 65%, 38.5% for those examined within 2 to 7 days of injury, and 50% for those evaluated a week or more after joint injury.
- Findings indicated that early examination i.e., within the first 24 hours, led to the best prognosis for return to normal function. Delayed examination led to a significantly higher (P < 0.05) chance of developing septic arthritis and significantly lower (P < 0.0014) survival chances due to the injury.
Implications of the Findings
- The study prompted the importance of timely examination and treatment in cases of open joint injuries in horses to prevent developing septic arthritis which in turn reduces survival rates.
- Further, the research also established that radiography plays a crucial role in diagnosing joint involvement in such injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Gibson KT, McIlwraith CW, Turner AS, Stashak TS, Aanes WA, Trotter GW.
(1989).
Open joint injuries in horses: 58 cases (1980-1986).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 194(3), 398-404.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthritis, Infectious / etiology
- Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Joints / injuries
- Retrospective Studies
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- 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).
- Loppnow Z, Kersh K, Wang C, Spaethe S, Troy J. Clinical use of antimicrobial regional limb perfusion in adult horses diagnosed with synovial sepsis or penetrating synovial wounds at a single equine referral hospital in the Midwest United States-163 cases (2010-2020). Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1504486.
- 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).
- Mosichuk AP, Smith JS, Tatarniuk DM, Troy JR, Kreuder AJ. Meropenem Administered via Intravenous Regional Limb Perfusion for Orthopedic Sepsis in Horses: A Clinical Retrospective Study. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:629627.
- Sinovich M, Villarino NF, Singer E, Robinson CS, Rubio-Martínez LM. Can blood serum amyloid A concentrations in horses differentiate synovial sepsis from extrasynovial inflammation and determine response to treatment?. Vet Rec 2020 Sep 19;187(6):235.
- Crosby DE, Labens R, Hughes KJ, Nielsen S, Hilbert BJ. Factors Associated With Survival and Return to Function Following Synovial Infections in Horses. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:367.
- Haltmayer E, Schwendenwein I, Licka TF. Course of serum amyloid A (SAA) plasma concentrations in horses undergoing surgery for injuries penetrating synovial structures, an observational clinical study. BMC Vet Res 2017 May 22;13(1):137.
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