Reprinted with permission from Equine Guelph
It is estimated that a staggering 60% of all equine lameness is due to arthritis and joint disease. Often joint diseases are diagnosed after the onset of the disease. One of the biggest challenges is that some arthritic horses might not show signs of lameness when there is damage and inflammation in the joint.
PREVENTION What can you do? Look for pain, swelling, heat and loss of function. Signs of pain such as lameness or soreness upon palpation of the joint may indicate inflammation in a joint. Inflammation in the joint might be visible from the outside due to swelling. Noticing and identifying any swelling at an early stage might help in the early diagnosis of joint disease. Acute swelling (sudden onset) occurs as a result of blood vessel dilation and the movement of fluid into the joint to help repair damaged tissues. This type of swelling is often soft to touch and your horse may be sore upon palpation. Chronic swelling, or long term swelling, of an inflamed joint may feel harder due to the production of new bone as a result of the chronic inflammatory process. When a joint becomes inflamed, the temperature might rise as much as 1°C (33.8 F) above resting body temperature which can be useful as a diagnostic tool given the appropriate equipment (our hands are likely not sensitive enough to notice this small change in temperature).
DIAGNOSIS It is important to work closely with your vet to properly diagnose and design an appropriate treatment program for your horse. During a clinical examination, your vet might perform any number of tests including flexion test and nerve block (anesthetic “blocks”) to help pinpoint any joint-related lameness. Other tools used alone or in conjunction to help in the diagnosis of joint disease include:
Joint Imaging Techniques - X‐Ray is the most commonly used diagnostic tool in joint disease. It is often used as the first stage of diagnosis given its practicality and ease of use. X‐Rays are able to identify the presence of bone chips as well as assessing the growth of new bone that is associated with certain cases of osteoarthritis. Narrowing of the space between the bones in a joint, which is associated with the breakdown of articular cartilage, can also be seen in an X‐ray, however this is only seen in later stage of joint disease. Unfortunately, X‐rays are not able to see changes in articular cartilage since it is mostly made up water and doesn’t show up on an X‐ray.
Computed Tomography - A CT scan takes multiple X‐ray images at different angles across the limb of a horse while he or she is anesthetized. A computer then produces a series of “sliced” images. This allows for very detailed pictures of the structure and shape of the bone as well its bone density which can be very helpful in the diagnosis of joint disease.
Arthroscopy - Diagnostic arthroscopy is a new technique that is currently being researched. It is more invasive than traditional techniques as it involves the insertion of a small endoscope into the joint and distending the joint with fluid ‐ this allows for a clear view of the inside of the joint. Unlike the X‐ray, this technique is more sensitive and allows seeing defects in joint cartilage.
Nuclear Scintigraphy - A bone scan is able to detect inflammation in the joint. During inflammation, there is an increase in the dilation of blood vessels in the joint – this can be detected using a bone scan. In this test, a radioactive dye is injected into the bloodstream of the horse and the dye diffuses out of the blood vessels and concentrates in an area of inflammation which can be seen with a special camera. Although this technique is very sensitive, it is not specific to the problem causing the inflammation.
Ultrasound - An ultrasound is useful to evaluate any damage to soft tissue in and around the joints including ligaments and tendons. It does not indicate problems associated with bone disorder and/or inflammation in the joint.
EARLY DETECTION Serum biomarkers have been shown to be very useful in early diagnosis of joint disease. A biomarker is a substance/element that is measured and is used to indicate the status of a metabolic process inside the horse’s body. Biomarkers inside the synovial fluid and blood serum can be measured to detect changes in the joint. For example, when articular cartilage is degraded, there is a breakdown of collagen and the subsequent release of molecules and enzymes (such as proteoglycans) can be detected in blood or synovial samples. An increase in these enzymes measured in the blood might indicate joint disease.
Joint 2
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT The primary goal in the treatment of joint disease is to reduce inflammation in the joint. It is critical to prevent the products of inflammation, such as interleukin (IL‐1), to further damage the joint ‐ specifically the articular cartilage. Pain relief is also an important factor when looking at the treatment of joint inflammation and arthritis as this is a very debilitating and painful disease.
Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are anti-inflammatory agents that inhibit some of the enzymes involved in the inflammatory process that cause damage to the synovial fluid, collagen matrix and articular cartilage. Although NSAIDs have been shown to help manage joint inflammation, care needs to be taken when using NSAIDs since negative side effects might occur. Joint injections allow veterinarians to administer medications directly into the joint. The most common medications administered are corticosteroids, hyaluronic agents and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG). All these medications are used to control the process of inflammation through different metabolic pathways. Other products derived from the horse’s own body can also be injected into the joint – these include IRAP ( Interluekin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein), stem cells, and PRP (platelet rich plasma). Research on these techniques is ongoing.
Journey Through The Joints
View the interactive learning tool from the University of Guelph, in sponsorship with Zoetis, and learn what is normal and what is not when it comes to a horse’s joint. This tool enables users to understand what is happening below the surface and how to manage joint inflammation.