title: Treatment of septic arthritis of the coxofemoral joint in 12 foals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical signs, surgical treatment, and outcome of septic arthritis of the coxofemoral joint in foals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Foals (n = 12) with confirmed sepsis of the coxofemoral joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lameness was localized to the coxofemoral joint based on physical examination. Sepsis was confirmed by cytological analysis of synovial fluid obtained under ultrasonographic guidance, during general anesthesia or standing sedation. Intra-articular analgesia was used as an adjunct diagnostic modality in 2 foals. Surgical lavage of the affected joint was performed via arthroscopy or needle lavage, with repeated lavage performed in 7 foals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Synovial fluid contained 4.4 to 173 × 109/L white blood cells (WBCs), and 38-63 g/L total protein. Cultures were positive in 10/12 foals. Isolated organisms included Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp., Rhodococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia spp., Staphylococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp. Ten foals were discharged from hospital (83%). One of these was euthanized 15 days later due to chronic intestinal salmonellosis and renal failure, and 9 foals survived with no residual lameness detected 1 year after discharge from hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sepsis of the coxofermoral joint can be effectively treated with a combination of arthroscopic lavage and the use of systemic and local antimicrobials.
authors.affiliation: Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, Division of Equine Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barceló Oliver
authors.affiliation: Victorian Equine Group, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, Division of Equine Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Uprichard
authors.affiliation: Sporthorse Veterinary Specialists, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neil
authors.affiliation: Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, Division of Equine Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pollock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000473:pathology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents