Page 381 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• the severity of the lesion

• the intended use of the horse.
VetBooks.ir In some cases, conservative management with restricted exercise and a balanced diet is

effective and the lesions will heal. In other cases, arthroscopic removal of bone fragments

and debridement of damaged articular cartilage and bone are necessary.
A new treatment is now being undertaken for young animals under 10 months of age that

have larger OCD fragments in their stifle joints. Absorbable pins are used to reattach the
fragments to the bone at the site of detachment, resulting in a smoother bone contour and

better quality of repair than if the fragment was removed. This is only suitable for stifle joints
that have not developed degenerative joint disease.

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronan may be considered and non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory medication, e.g. phenylbutazone, is often prescribed to reduce pain and

inflammation. Oral nutraceuticals may be helpful.

In horses with subchondral bone cysts of the stifle joint, corticosteroid is sometimes
injected into the cyst lining.

Prognosis

The prognosis ranges from excellent to guarded, depending on the site and extent of the
lesion.

Prevention

Correct management and feeding of the pregnant mare and foal can reduce the incidence of

developmental diseases such as OCD. However, our understanding of all of the factors
contributing to the disease process is not sufficient to completely eliminate the risk of it
occurring.

JOINT INFECTION (SEPTIC ARTHRITIS) IN ADULT

HORSES

Bacterial infection of a joint is a medical emergency. It can lead to rapid, irreversible
destruction of the articular cartilage of the joint, leading to permanent lameness, loss of use
and subsequent destruction of the horse.