Communication of the ulnaris lateralis bursa with the equine elbow joint and evaluation of caudal arthrocentesis.
Elbows from cadaver limbs were evaluated to determine the presence of a communication between the ulnaris lateralis bursa (ULB) and the joint and the extent of the bursa. Thirty-two pairs of joints were studied: 12 pairs were frozen, then transversely sectioned and 20 pairs were injected with methyl methacrylate. The 12 frozen-section pairs revealed a communication between the ULB and the elbow joint in 9/24 joints (37.5%) and a true bursa (absence of communication) in 15/24 joints (62.5%). The mean bursal length in adult horses was 3.8 cm. There was no significant difference in the length of the bursa or presence of bursa-joint communication between the right and left limbs. In the acrylic specimens a communication between the ULB and the joint was found in 19/40 specimens (47.5%). There was no significant correlation between age or sex and frequency of communication. There was a significantly greater prevalence of communications present in Quarter Horse than in non-Quarter Horse (P < 0.05) joints. A communication between the ULB and the joint is not always present, and therefore injection of the elbow joint via the ULB may be unreliable.
Sams
A E
AE
Texas Veterinary Medical Center, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University, College Station 77843.
Honnas
C M
CM
Sack
W O
WO
Ford
T S
TS
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000818:Animals; D001175:Arthrography / Q000662:veterinary; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000662:veterinary; D001947:Breeding; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016319:Corrosion Casting / Q000662:veterinary; D005552:Forelimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005629:Frozen Sections / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007596:Joints / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins