ARTHROSONOGRAPHY - THE USE OF DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND IN SEPTIC AND TRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS IN CATTLE - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 25 PATIENTS

The case records, clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic and arthroc entesis findings from 25 cattle with septic or traumatic arthritis wer e reviewed. The total of 30 joints involved were: articulatio cubiti ( elbow joint)-1, articulatio carpi (carpal joint)-10; articulatio genus (stifle joint)-4; articulatio tarsocruralis (tarsocrural joint)-8; ar ticulatio metacarpo-/metatarsophalangea (metacarpo-/metatarsophalangea l joint -7. Ultrasonographic investigation was performed using 7.5 MHz linear and 5 MHz sector transducers. In eight cattle, a concurrent in fection of periarticular tendon sheaths or hygroma was diagnosed. The distension of the joint cavities could be imaged in all cases. Assessi ng echogenicity, acoustic enhancement, ultrasonographic character of t he exudate (liquid or clotted) and findings revealed by aspiration, ar throtomy or at necropsy, the synovial effusion was classified as: sero us, fibrinous or fibrino-purulent. Diagnostic ultrasound provided a co mprehensive preoperative diagnosis in septic and traumatic arthritis b y imaging the accurate localization of soft-tissue swelling and the ex tent and consistency of joint effusion.