Characteristics of digital flexor tendon sheath fluid from clinically normal horses.
Physical, biochemical, and cytologic properties of synovial fluid from digital flexor tendon sheaths of clinically normal horses were investigated. Tendon sheath fluid was pale yellow, clear, and did not clot. Volume of fluid within a tendon sheath varied minimally, with a mean of 2.11 ml. Total erythrocyte counts were higher than values observed in normal equine joint fluid, whereas values for total leukocyte count (770 +/- 73 cells/mm3), viscosity (6.05 +/- 0.58 cs), and protein concentration (7.87 +/- 0.03 mg/ml) were similar to those in joint fluid. Large mononuclear cells were the predominant synovial fluid cell type. Mean hyaluronic acid concentration (0.74 +/- 0.02 mg/ml) and mucinous precipitate quality were lower than values in joint fluid.
Department of Surgical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
J A
JA
Malark
A J
AJ
Nixon
K L
KL
Skinner
H
H
Mohammed
D000818:Animals; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D006614:Hindlimb; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity
D011506:Proteins; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid