Effects of Intra-Articular Injection of Flumethasone Suspension in Joint Diseases in Horses

Abstract

SUMMARY Flumethasone suspension was injected into 19 joints of 14 horses. Seven of the horses were affected with tarsal hydrarthrosis, 5 with degenerative joint disease, 1 with chronic traumatic arthritis, and 1 with bilateral postoperative tarsal arthritis. Pathologic changes in synovial effusion samples from joints of affected horses did not vary greatly from findings in synovial fluid samples from joints of control horses. Repeat intra-articular injection and sampling permitted comparisons between results of preinjection synovial effusion analyses for all horses and postinjection analyses of synovial effusion samples from 13 joints of 11 of the horses. Results of postinjection synovial effusion analyses indicated a reversal of intrinsic pathologic changes toward properties associated with normal synovial fluids. The flumethasone suspension was well tolerated by all horses and proved beneficial as a rapid and temporary palliative local adjunct in the management of joint diseases in horses. At no time were adverse side effects observed either systemically or at the joint. The long term effects of intra-articularly injected flumethasone suspension were not investigated. Joints of 12 of the horses were functionally normal at varying periods after therapy was terminated. Minor supracapsular fibrosis persisted in 2 of the horses in which joint function returned to normal. Two of the horses were euthanatized before results of therapy could be fully evaluated.