lameness 3 Flashcards
Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- history
- causes
- History of chronic, severe lameness
- Due to untreated/unresponsive
– Sole ulcer/abscess
– White line disease
– Penetrating foreign body
Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- clinical appearance
- Swollen coronary band
- +/- fistulous tracts
- Toe may be tilted up if DDF is ruptured
- May involve:
– Navicular bone and bursa
– Deep digital flexor tendon (DDF)
– Digital cushion
Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- treatment options
- Digit amputation
- Arthrodesis
- Euthanasia
Digit Amputation
- as treatment for Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- pros and cons
Advantages
* Rapid
* Inexpensive
* Resection of infected tissues
* Rapid relief
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Disadvantages
* Expected to remain sound for < 1 year
* Heavy animals do poorly
* Result is not cosmetic
* Ethics?
digit amputation technique
- IV regional anesthesia
- Surgical prep?
- +/- skin flap
- Gigli wire between toes and angle up towards dewclaw
– Objective is to cut through distal aspect of proximal phalanx (P1)
Digit Amputation – Aftercare
- Pressure bandage – 5 days x 2
– Place further bandages as necessary - Procaine penicillin G or oxytetracycline systemically for 5 days
- NSAID analgesia
Arthrodesis of DIP Joint
- pros and cons
Advantages:
* Longer production life
* Better for heavy animals
* Result is more cosmetic and more stable
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Disadvantages
* More expensive
* More technically demanding
* More follow up care
* Tend to be more painful
* Slower to heal > slower relief
Arthrodesis of DIP Joint
- approaches and their pros and cons
- Determine approach to joint based on how infection entered the joint
– Lateral or solar - Goal is to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible
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Solar Approach - Most common
- Advantage – more thorough removal of necrotic tissue
- Disadvantage – toe tips
up due to damage to
DDF
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Lateral approach - ± For infections originating from interdigital space
- Advantage – more cosmetic and more stable
- Disadvantage – harder to drain and remove tissue
Arthrodesis of DIP Joint – Technique
- Clean foot
- IV regional anesthesia
- Drill with 1⁄4” drill bit – Avoid coronary band
- Enlarge with 1⁄2” drill bit
- Curette remaining necrotic tissue
- Lavage
- Block unaffected claw
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Arthrodesis of DIP Joint - Aftercare
- Place drain and pressure bandage
- Lavage and change bandage every other day
- Procaine penicillin G for 2 weeks
- NSAID daily
– Meloxicam
– Ketoprofen
Euthanasia - when is this needed for a case of Septic Arthritis of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- MANDATORY if animal is non-weight bearing and amputation or arthrodesis are not performed promptly
- Cannot send cows to slaughter – unfit/unsafe to transport
- Antibiotic treatment alone not sufficient
Septic Arthritis of the Neonatal Calf
– Lame (Grade 4-5)
– Painful, swollen joint > Commonly carpus, tarsus, stifle
– Distended joint capsule
– Usually febrile
– Usually has some omphalophlebitis
Septic Arthritis of the Neonatal Calf
* Treatment
– Poor response unless detected very early
– Systemic antibiotics
* Florfenicol
* Trimethoprim sulfa
* Ceftiofur
– Joint lavage?
– Duration of treatment 1-3 weeks
Septic Arthritis of the Neonatal Calf
- control
– Clean calving area > Pasture best for beef
– Adequate colostrum intake
– Early identification of disease
– Dip navel?
Mycoplasma Arthritis
- what other diseases come with this?
- prevalence?
- A.k.a. chronic pneumonia and polyarthritis syndrome (CPPS)
- Seen sporadically in beef feedlot animals
- 100% have chronic bronchopneumonia – Caseous microabscessation
- ~50% also have arthritis, periarthritis, and tenosynovitis
