Intra-articular anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal joint alleviates lameness associated with the navicular bursa in horses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if intra-articular anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal joint could alleviate lameness associated with the navicular bursa in horses.


METHODS
Experimental investigation.


METHODS
Six clinically normal horses.


METHODS
Lameness was induced in each horse by injecting either the left or right front navicular bursa with 5 mg of amphotericin-B. Forty-eight hours later each horse was videotaped walking and trotting before, and 5, 30, and 60 minutes after injecting the distal interphalangeal joint of the treated limb with 5 mL of 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride. All video recordings were then rerecorded onto master tapes in a random sequence. Four clinicians, unaware of the animal identity related to observation time or limb treated, independently viewed these tapes and graded the lamenesses.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in lameness 5 and 30 minutes after anesthetic was injected into the distal interphalangeal joint. Lameness scores 60 minutes after anesthetic administration were not significantly different than baseline values. Gross pathological examination confirmed marked inflammation of the treated navicular bursae and normal appearance of the distal interphalangeal joints.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal joint can alleviate lameness associated with the navicular bursa.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal joint is not specific only for lameness originating in the distal interphalangeal joint.
Pleasant
R S
RS
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, USA.
Moll
H D
HD
Ley
W B
WB
Lessard
P
P
Warnick
L D
LD
D000666:Amphotericin B; D000758:Anesthesia; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002062:Bursitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007596:Joints; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013639:Tarsal Bones
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D008619:Mepivacaine