Evaluation of experimental Osteoarthritis treatment with hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone of horses in treadmill training program

Abstract

Osteoarthritis usually affects athletic horses. The disease outcomes include pain, poor performance and consequently economic losses. Several types of treatments have been used, and they are divided into conservative and surgical. Even though no therapeutic protocol proves to be completely effective for Osteoarthritis resolution, intra-articular pharmacological intervention is one of the most required. This therapeutic modality is justified by constant need for a prompt response to lameness and horse's poor performance. Thus, intra-articular injection with corticosteroids is widely used, but raises controversies. This steroidal anti-inflammatory drug can suppress inflammatory events, reducing pain and clinical manifestation of Osteoarthritis. However, the combination of intra-articular corticosteroid injection and regular exercise program can lead to irreversible chondral disorders in medium to long term. Similarly, hyaluronic acid has been widely used to pain control in Osteoarthritic patients, being able to reduce synovial effusion and synovitis by viscosupplementation. The association of hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone acetonide can be effective in Osteoarthritis controlling, allowing the quick return of horse to athletic activities. On the other hand can determine the accelerated progression of degenerative processes, and has been observed worldwide with its indiscriminate use by veterinarians. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the treatment outcomes with hyaluronic acid alone or in combination with triamcinolone on modulation/progression in surgically induced Osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joints of horses that will be exercised on a high-speed treadmill. In addition, this study purposes to evaluate the eventual catabolic effects of triamcinolone injected in healthy metacarpophalangeal joints of horses submitted to treadmill exercise. (AU)