Retrospectief onderzoek naar de resultaten van intra-articulaire medicatie in vergelijking met orale toediening van NSAID's bij het paard met de (waarschijnlijkheids-)diagnose 'synovitis' (DGP, 2004-2007)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of treatment with either intra-articular medication, NSAIDs, or both, in horses that suffered from (aseptic) osteoarthritis, tenosynovitis or bursitis. Horses that met several criteria were included in the study. Patient data files (Vetware) of 120 lame horses that were investigated at the Department of Equine Sciences of Utrecht University were collected and evaluated: 42 horses were treated with orally administered NSAIDs only (vedaprofen or meloxicam), 39 with intrathecally administered corticosteroids only (methylprednisolone acetate, triamcinolone acetonide or dexamethasone) and 39 horses received orally administered NSAIDs as well as intrathecally administered corticosteroids. 30% of horses treated with NSAIDs had a positive outcome. 33% of horses treated with corticosteroids and 51% of horses treated with both NSAIDs and corticosteroids had a positive outcome. Differences between these groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Outcome of these results was not influenced by the results of diagnostic imaging. It was concluded that in the present study there was a tendency that a combination of intrathecally administered corticosteroids with orally administered NSAIDs resulted in the best outcome, but it did not lead to scientific evidence that intrathecally administered corticosteroids with or without orally administered NSAIDs had a better prognosis.