Joint Injections Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is arthrocentesis?
placing a needle into a joint
What are the uses of arthrocentesis?
localize pain during lameness exam
treat joint disease by injecting medication
collect synovial fluid for analysis
provide entry and exit portals for joint lavage
How do you prepare the site for a joint injection?
restrain the horse or do a nerve block
clip or shave the area (you don’t actually have to and some people don’t want you too)
scrub site with antiseptic: 5-15 minutes, betadine or chlorhexidine, isopropyl alcohol
What is the technique for a joint injection?
know you anatomy
multiple attempts = increased likelihood of failure to horse or human
limb bearing weight ot held
sterile gloves, needles, and syringes
palpate landmarks, insert needle quickly, watch for synovial fluid, then attach syringe
What is the difficulty of injecting the coffin joint?
2/3
Where are joint injections for the coffin joint?
¼ to ½” above hoof wall, ¾” lateral or medial to sagittal line, direct needle perpendicular to bearing surface of foot, insert in 1 to ½”
What is the degree of difficulty of an joint injection into the navicular bursa?
2/3
What should the limb position be for a joint injection of the navicular bursa?
weight bearing or held
How do you inject the navicular bursa?
Mid-way between heel bulbs, just proximal to coronary band, insert 1 ½ to 2”, will hit bone
What is the degree of difficulty for injection the pastern joint in a horse?
2/3
Where is the pastern joint injected?
○ ½” distal to eminence on distolateral PI (where lateral collateral attaches), underneath common digital extensor tendon, parallel to ground, insert 1”
What is the degree of difficulty for injecting the fetlock joint?
1/3
Where do you inject into the fetlock joint?
Distal to lateral splint, proximal to proximal sesamoid collateral ligament, palmar/plantar to cannon, dorsal to lateral branch of suspensory, insert ¼ to ½”
What is the degree of difficulty of injecting the carpus joint?
1/3
What joints communicate in the carpus?
bottom two
midcarpal
carpometacarpal
How do you inject the carpus?
hold limb with carpus in flexion
How do you inject the radiocarpal joint?
Distal to medial radius, proximal to radial carpal bone, medial to extensor carpi radialis, insert ½”
How do you inject in the midcarpal joint?
Distal to radial carpal bone, medial to proximal edge of 3rd carpal bone, medial to extensor carpi radialis, insert ½”
What joints of the tarsus joint communicate?
tibiotarsal and proximal intertarsal joints communicate
(top two)
What is the degree of difficulty of injecting the tibiotarsal joint?
1/3
Where do you inject into the tibiotarsal joint?
○ 1 to 1 ½” distal to medial malleolus of tibia, medial or lateral to saphenous vein, insert ½”
What is the degree of difficulty of injecting into the distal intertarsal joint?
1-2/3
Where is the needle entered in a distal intertarsal joint?
entered from medial side, which can be more dangerous for clinician
Where do you insert the needle into the distal intertarsal joint?
Distal to cunean tendon, in proximal T created by junction of central tarsal, 3rd tarsal and fused 1 + 2 tarsal
