Comparison of intra-articular injection of 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution with rest alone for treatment of horses with traumatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To compare effects of intra-articular injection of 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution with rest alone for treatment of horses with traumatic arthritis.

ANIMALS

38 Standardbred horses with moderate to severe lameness that resulted from traumatic arthritis.

PROCEDURE

Horses were stratified on the basis of number of affected joints. In each stratum, horses were allocated randomly to treatment groups (intraarticular injection of 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution vs rest only). Treatment was for a period of 3 weeks. Horses were inspected weekly with a final examination 2 to 4 weeks after completion of treatment.

RESULTS

Mean lameness index was significantly lower during the 3-week treatment period and the entire study period for the NaCl-injected group. A significant decrease in the lameness index during the first 3-week treatment period also was detected for the rest-only group; however, the lameness index increased significantly for this group during the follow-up period, and an overall significant decrease was not detected. Comparison of the lameness index curve indicated a difference in favor of NaCl injection, with a significant difference between the 2 groups at final examination. Nine horses became sound during treatment with rest only, but 6 relapsed before final examination. In the NaCl-injected group, 5 of 10 sound horses relapsed.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Intra-articular injection of 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution was beneficial in horses with traumatic arthritis. Use of rest alone for a limited period was inadequate for treatment of young Standardbred horses with traumatic arthritis.