By Meier, C., Praktische Tierarzt, 1997
Description
The technique and results of joint lavage for treatment of purulent arthritis in adult cattle are reported and discussed for use also under field conditions. Acute infectious arthritis was diagnosed in 130 adult cattle. 108 (83 %) of them had to be excluded from therapy because of polyarthritis (n = 57), ichorous or progredient monarthritis with osteomyelitis or monarthritis with uneconomical prognosis (n = 51). One young heifer suffering from osteomyelitis was treated by arthrodesis. The other 21 cattle (16 %) were selected for joint lavage. 17 (81 %) of them recovered. Out of the 73 cattle with monarthritis 32 per cent had an infection of the hock, 27 per cent of the fetlock, 19 per cent of the wrist and stifle and two per cent of other joints. Patients with tarsitis (39 %), fetlock arthritis (30 %) and carpitis (29 %) were more often selected for therapy than with gonitis (14 %). All treated infections of the fetlock, wrist and stifle were healed, but only 56 per cent of the patients with tarsitis recovered. On average 8,8 joint lavages and 14, 8 days of antibiotic therapy were necessary for recovery. The patients stayed for 18,9 days in clinic. These parameters differed considerably between the joints affected. Selection for therapy and success decreased evidently with increasing duration of disease. Total cell count in synovial fluid has only little prognostic value. The degree of lameness on the 10th day of therapy allows an exact prognosis
The technique and results of joint lavage for treatment of purulent arthritis in adult cattle are reported and discussed for use also under field conditions. Acute infectious arthritis was diagnosed in 130 adult cattle. 108 (83 %) of them had to be excluded from therapy because of polyarthritis (n = 57), ichorous or progredient monarthritis with osteomyelitis or monarthritis with uneconomical prognosis (n = 51). One young heifer suffering from osteomyelitis was treated by arthrodesis. The other 21 cattle (16 %) were selected for joint lavage. 17 (81 %) of them recovered. Out of the 73 cattle with monarthritis 32 per cent had an infection of the hock, 27 per cent of the fetlock, 19 per cent of the wrist and stifle and two per cent of other joints. Patients with tarsitis (39 %), fetlock arthritis (30 %) and carpitis (29 %) were more often selected for therapy than with gonitis (14 %). All treated infections of the fetlock, wrist and stifle were healed, but only 56 per cent of the patients with tarsitis recovered. On average 8,8 joint lavages and 14, 8 days of antibiotic therapy were necessary for recovery. The patients stayed for 18,9 days in clinic. These parameters differed considerably between the joints affected. Selection for therapy and success decreased evidently with increasing duration of disease. Total cell count in synovial fluid has only little prognostic value. The degree of lameness on the 10th day of therapy allows an exact prognosis
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