Treatment with continuous intrasynovial antimicrobial infusion for septic synovitis in horses: 31 cases (2000-2003).

This research explores the effectiveness of continuous intrasynovial antimicrobial infusion (CIAI) in treating septic synovitis, a joint infection in horses. Most cases responded well with high survival and recovery rates noted.

Methods

• For this research, the team examined the records of 31 horses treated for septic synovitis using CIAI.
• The sample included 22 adult horses and 9 foals, young horses less than one year old.
• The clinical variables were evaluated to determine their correlation with the performance of horses after treatment.

Findings

• Out of 42 synovial cavities treated with CIAI, 29 were chronic infections that were present for over seven days, 15 had not responded to other forms of treatment, and 13 also had osteomyelitis, an accompanying bone infection.
• The average delay between infection detection and the start of the CIAI treatment was approximately 20 days and the average duration of the CIAI treatment was a little over six days.
• Irritation was observed in several horses at the area where the catheter was inserted but no long term complications were reported.
• Treatment system malfunctions were experienced by two horses but they were corrected during the course of the treatment.

Conclusions

• A large majority, 93% of the infections were successfully treated, meaning 94% of the horses recovered.
• Of the 28 horses that were discharged from the hospital, the majority were able to fulfill their intended usage based on long-term follow-ups.
• It was concluded that using CIAI for treating septic synovitis is highly effective and can be used to deliver antimicrobials into different synovial cavities.