Alcohol-facilitated ankylosis of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints in horses with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and efficacy of alcohol-facilitated ankylosis of the distal intertarsal (DIT) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints in horses with osteoarthritis (bone spavin).


METHODS
Prospective clinical trial.


METHODS
21 horses with DIT or TMT joint-associated hind limb lameness and 5 nonlame horses.


METHODS
11 horses (group 1) underwent lameness, force-plate, and radiographic examinations; following intra-articular analgesia, lameness and force-plate examinations were repeated. Nonlame horses were used for force-plate data acquisition only. Following localization of lameness to the DIT and TMT joints, contrast arthrographic evaluation was performed; when communication with the tibiotarsal joint was not evident or suspected, 70% ethyl alcohol (3 mL) was injected. Group 1 horses underwent lameness, force-plate, and radiographic examinations every 3 months for 1 year. Ten other horses (group 2) underwent lameness and radiographic examinations followed by joint injection with alcohol; follow-up information was obtained from owners or via clinical examination.


RESULTS
Significant postinjection reduction in lameness (after 3 days to 3 months) was evident for all treated horses. Twelve months after injection, 10 of 11 group 1 horses were not lame; lameness grade was 0.5 in 1 horse. Follow-up information was available for 9 of 10 group 2 horses; 7 were not lame, and 2 remained mildly lame (1 had a concurrent problem in the injected limb, and the other had DIT joint collapse that precluded needle entry).


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular alcohol injection in horses with bone spavin resulted in a rapid (usually within 3 months) reduction in lameness and joint space collapse.
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada. carmalt_vet@hotmail.com
James L
JL
Carmalt
Chris D
CD
Bell
Luca
L
Panizzi
Ryan R E
RR
Wolker
Joel L
JL
Lanovaz
José L
JL
Bracamonte
David G
DG
Wilson
D000818:Animals; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013643:Tarsus, Animal / Q000473:pathology
D000431:Ethanol