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  Discussion on Treating the distal intertarsal joint
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 9:11 am:

Seems like everytime I put up a post about lameness, things get more complex so I was delighted to find this piece of research that makes at least one task easier: treating the distal intratarsal (centrodistal) joint of the hock. The hock is composed of numerous joints most easily injected except the distal intratarsal joint which unfortunately is often involved in lameness with arthritis. In trials with experienced lameness gurus it was often found that attempts to inject this joint specifically missed the mark. Well as it turns out threating the much easier to hit tarso-metatarsal joint also treats this difficult to hit joint.


Equine Vet J. 2005 Mar;37(2):172-4.
Concentration of methylprednisolone in the centrodistal joint after administration of methylprednisolone acetate in the tarsometatarsal joint.

Serena A, Schumacher J, Schramme MC, Degraves F, Bell E, Ravis W.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The centrodistal (CD) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints are often injected individually with a corticosteroid to resolve lameness caused by osteoarthritis (OA). There are no data available regarding diffusion of methylprednisolone (MP) from the TMT joint to the CD joint. HYPOTHESIS: A therapeutic concentration of MP diffuses into the CD joint after methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) is administered into the TMT joint. OBJECTIVE: To measure the concentration of MP in the CD joint after MPA was administered into the TMT joint. METHODS: MPA was administered into a TMT joint of 16 horses. At different times, the ipsilateral CD joint of these horses was injected with a small amount of saline and recovered saline was measured for concentration of MP using high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Six hours after administration of MPA into the TMT joint, a therapeutic concentration of MP was found in all 10 CD joints sampled at this time. CONCLUSIONS: Horses with pain arising from the distal 2 joints of the hock can be treated by administering MPA into the TMT joint alone. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Administering MPA into the TMT joint only, to treat OA of the distal 2 hock joints, reduces the difficulties and risks associated with centesis of the CD joint.

DrO
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 3:21 pm:

This is great info Dr. O. Thank you. I should call my vet and schedule injections for my QH gelding right now!
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