The treatment of septic arthritis in the calves with arthroscopic lavage

Abstract

Arthritis is a common disease in calves, manifested by various clinical symptoms and may cause joint deformities with progression of the case. Septic arthritis is usually characterized by severe lameness and swelling of the joints and signs of pain. We evaluated arthritis in 28 calves were brought to Fırat University Animal Hospital with complaints of joint swelling and lameness. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two different lavage solutions and different antibiotic routes on the treatment process. Patients were divided into four groups in the treatment protocol. Seven patients were treated with arthroscopic lavage (AL) with 0.1% povidone-iodine and intraarticular gentamicin, 7 were treated with AL with 0.1% povidone-iodine and intramuscular gentamicin. Seven patients were treated with AL with 0.05% chlorhexidine and intraarticular gentamicin, 7 were treated with AL with 0.05% chlorhexidine and intramuscular gentamicin. Applications were repeated 3 times with one week intervals. Clinical examination, complete blood count and synovial fluid analysis revealed that septic arthritis was diagnosed. Desired success was achieved in patients who continued the treatment (intraarticular lavage + gentamicin) once a week in 3 doses. As a result of the evaluation, treatment was successful in 67% of the animals in group 1 and 3. Treatment was successful in 57% of the animals in the second and fourth groups. The gentamicin used in the first and third groups was administered intraarticularly and intramuscularly in the second and fourth groups. In the evaluation, it was observed that intraarticular administration was more effective. When the post-treatment results of each group were evaluated, it was found that there was no difference between two separate lavage solutions. It was also observed that the success of treatment in septic arthritis cases in calves is related to the continuity of antiseptic lavage application.