Intra-Articular Treatment of Arthritis in Race-Horses with Sodium Hyaluronate

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Abstract
Forty-five race-horses with arthritis of non-in-fectious type in 54 joints were treated with sodium hyaluronate intra-articularly. All joints had previously been treated without lasting success by conventional methods, such as firing, blistering or intraarticular injection of cortisone. In most cases only 1 injection of 2 ml (20 mg) sodium hyaluronate was needed. To avoid subjective evaluation, the effects of the treatment were based on the joint’s capacity of withstanding extreme stress, which means that the horse should be able to train and race again. The treatment was concentrated on the carpal and fetlock joints. Of the 54 joints treated only 5 did not show any improvement. Thirty-eight were free from lameness — 32 of them returned to the race-track. The observation period was at least 1 year. No side effects were observed.