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Jakub Nicpon, Krzysztof Kubiak*, Marcin Jankowski*, Jolanta Spuzak*©
Department and Clinic of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 51, 50-366 Wroclaw,
Poland
*Department of Internal Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki
47, 50-366 Wroclaw, Poland
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF BONE SPAVIN IN HORSES
Key words: horse, bone spavin
Introduction
The characteristic sign of bone spavin is pain, occuring at the initial stage of the disease and changing motor mechanics. The stance phase is incomplete in lifting the limb, which leads to wearing of the anterior wall basic edge. A horse walked from a stall after a long rest displays lameness of a high degree. The disorder gradually decreases as the horse is in motion. It may be already observed in the stall that the affected limb is saved - the horse strains the opposite limb. In the prolonged course of the disease on the medial aspect of the hock joint which is the place of the highest static and dynamic strains one can observe in the clinical examination characteristic bone deformations. The joint cartillage becomes damaged and erosions are formed which may uncover subcartilaginous bone layers and consequently lead to a direct contact of the joint bones not covered by the cartillage. These changes are sometimes accompanied by weakly manifested, non-specific synovitis. The bone spavin disease may be divided into 2 phases. In an early phase the joints surface is improperly nourished due to macro- and microinjury or the anatomical structures overloading. The synovial fluid becomes watery and does not perform the physiological function of nourishing the cartillage; the shock absorption worsens. In this phase distinct lameness is observed and the hock joint is painful. In the further course of the disease the early phase becomes chronic. Prolonged strain in the joint activates formation of osteocytes, which is evidenced by characteristic bone spavin deformations on the anteriorly medial aspect of the joint. In the preliminary phase they are small and hardly detected by an X-ray examination. Afterwards further degeneration of the joint cartillage progresses.The joint ankylosis occurs, the joint surfaces not covered by the cartilage stop rubbing against one another and the pain disappears. However, it is a prolonged process and is manifested by lameness of a high degree. Bone spavin is a serious disease, but the joint degeneration may be curbed with early diagnosis. Proper exercise, shoeing and feeding of the horse are very important factors in the prevention of the disease.
© Jakub Nicpon, Krzysztof Kubiak, Marcin Jankowski, Jolanta Spuzak, 2009
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Task, the aim of the article
The aim of the study was to present own experience in diagnostics and treatment of bone spavin in horses. Material and methods
The study entailed 40 horses, 3-18 years of age, of different breed and sex with the signs ofthe pelvic limb lameness. Sixteen horses displayed early bone spavin symptoms, 10 horses had advanced changes. In the remaining 14 horses lameness had been caused by other factors.
During the examination of the horse both on soft and hard ground the attention was paid to the kind and degree of lameness. Afterwards, at rest, the hock joints were inspected from the front on flat ground and with even loading of all the limbs, comparing both hind legs from the straight and oblique perspective. The attention was paid to wearing of the hoof horn of the anterior wall basic edge, abnormalities of hind limbs and shoeing. Subsequently, the flexion test of the hock joint was performed. Afterwards, diagnostic anesthesia, an X-ray examination and scintigraphic examination were carried out.
Sixteen horses with early bone spavin changes were subject to the conservative treatment which consisted in an intra-articular injection of corticosteroids -betametazone in the Celestowet preparation. The aim of intra-articular administration of corticosteroids was to stop an acute inflammatory process in the joint, as well as to relieve the pain. Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids result in distinct reduction of the inflammation signs and great improvement of the clinical signs. Ten horses with the chronic bone spavin disease were subject to surgery [acc. to Adams]. The procedure aimed at immobilizing the hock joint, which resulted in immobilization of its component bones, finally relieving the pain. Results of research
The results of the conducted research prove that intra-articular injections of corticosteroid - betametazone are a very effective method at the early stage of bone spavin. Moreover, it is a technique of a low complications rate which is easy to perform. The condition of the administered treatment high effectiveness is an early diagnosis supported by a scintigraphic examination and possibly diagnostic anesthesia. In all 16 horses with the early signs of bone spavin the conservative treatment gave positive results, lameness subsided and the animals returned to exercise.
In the horses which underwent the surgery according to Adams the convalescence time was 4-12 months and about 70% of horses fully recovered and returned to sports activities. About 20% of horses showed change for the better but lameness did not subside completely. In about 10% of horses no improvement was observed due to different complications. Conclusions
1. Bone spavin may be diagnosed only in the complex management including the orthopaedic examination of the locomotive organs, the joint flexion tests, intra-articular diagnostic anesthesia and X-ray and scintigraphic examinations.
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Том 11 № 3(42) Частина 1, 2009
2. It seems that in the early bone spavin phase scintigraphy and intra-articular anesthesia, and in the chronic phase - an X-ray examination, are the most reliable methods in the diagnosis of the disease.
3. The conservative treatment with betametazone in the early phase and surgery with arthrodesis in the chronic form meet the contemporary standards of the bone spavin therapy.
References
1. Rooney, J.R.: A Theoretical Analysis of Equine Arthritis. „Equine vet. J." 1969, vol. 1, s. 117-126
2. Barneveld, A.: Einzelne klinische Aspekte des Spates. "IV Tagung uber Pferdekrankheiten im Rahmen der Equitana, Essen" 1981, s. 65-71
3. Wintzer, H.J.: Krankheiten des Pferdes, 1982, Verlag Parey, Berlin, s. 230-242
4. See, Y.: Intra-synovial corticosteroid injections in juvenile chronic arthritis, A review Annals Academy of Medicine 1998, vol. 1, s. 105-111
5. Kaiser, H., Kley, H.K.: Cortisontherapie, Corticoide in Klinik und Praxis. Verlag Enke, Stuttgart 1992, s. 413-440
6. Gabel, A.A.: Lamness Caused by Inflammation of the Distal Hock. "Vet. Clin. North Am. Large Anim. Pract." 1980, vol. 2, s. 101-124
7. Gabel, A.A.: Preventation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammation of the Distal Hock. "Proc. Am. Assoc. Equine Pract." 1982, vol. 28, s. 287-298
8. Adams, O.R.: Surgical Arthrodesis for Treatment of Bone Spavin. "J. Am. Vet. Med. Asoc." 1970, vol. 157, s. 1480-1485
Summary
The aim of the study was to present own experience in diagnostics and treatment of bone spavin in horses. The study entailed 40 horses, 3-18 years of age, of different breed and sex with the signs ofthe pelvic limb lameness. Bone spavin may be diagnosed only in the complex management including the orthopaedic examination of the locomotive organs, the joint flexion tests, intra-articular diagnostic anesthesia and X-ray and scintigraphic examinations. It seems that in the early bone spavin phase scintigraphy and intra-articular anesthesia, and in the chronic phase - an X-ray examination, are the most reliable methods in the diagnosis of the disease. The conservative treatment with betametazone in the early phase and surgery with arthrodesis in the chronic form meet the contemporary standards of the bone spavin therapy.
Стаття надшшла до редакцИ 25.09.2009
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