Spontaneous Septic Arthritis of Canine Elbow Twenty-One Cases

Mielke, Ben, Comerford, Eithne ORCID: 0000-0002-5244-6042, English, Kate and Meeson, Richard (2018) Spontaneous Septic Arthritis of Canine Elbow Twenty-One Cases VETERINARY AND COMPARATIVE ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY, 31 (6). pp. 488-493. ISSN 0932-0814, 2567-6911

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Abstract

Objective This study provides information on clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and associated risk factors of spontaneous septic elbow arthritis in the dog. Methods Medical records between March 2007 and June 2015 were searched for cases of spontaneous septic elbow arthritis with a diagnosis based on clinical signs, arthrocentesis, cytological and microbiological analysis of elbow joint synovial fluid, radiography and outcome following treatment. Results Twenty-one cases of septic arthritis were identified. Pre-existing osteoarthritis was present in 14/15 elbows for which diagnostic imaging was available. Although all cases had increased neutrophil count on synovial fluid cytology, culture was only positive in 12/21. Despite initial improvement in lameness scores (pre-treatment 9/10 [range: 1-10] versus post-treatment 3/10 [range: 1-5]), 11/12 had residual long-term lameness. Recurrence of infection was noted in 3/12 elbows for which long-term (>8 weeks) follow-up was available. There was an acute mortality rate of 2/21 associated with severe systemic sepsis. Clinical Significance Septic arthritis, even in the absence of pyrexia, should be considered as a major differential diagnosis in middle aged, large breed dogs, with pre-existing elbow arthritis, that suffer an acute onset lameness, with elbow joint effusion and discomfort. Antibiotic therapy alone was effective for treatment with high initial response rates. Chronic lameness post-treatment was common, and a high rate of recurrence was seen with 3/12 dogs suffering more than one episode.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	septic arthritis, elbow, osteoarthritis, elbow dysplasia, infections
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	25 Jan 2019 11:41
Last Modified:	22 May 2026 21:37
DOI:	10.1055/s-0038-1668108
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3031765
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