Factors associated with prognosis for survival and athletic use in foals with septic arthritis: 93 cases (1987-1994)

Objective-To identify factors affecting the prognosis for survival and athl etic use in foals with septic arthritis. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-93 foals with septic arthritis. Procedure-Medical records were reviewed to obtain clinical findings, labora tory test results, radiographic findings, treatment method, and outcome. Ra ce records for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds were evaluated to determine whether foals subsequently raced and whether they raced successfully. Results-43 foals had 1 affected joint, 44 foals had multiple affected joint s, and number of affected joints was not recorded for 6 foals. The femoropa tellar and tarsocrural joints were most commonly affected. Osteomyelitis or degenerative joint disease were detected in 59% (46/78) of foals. Failure of passive transfer, pneumonia, and enteritis were common. Foals were treat ed with lavage, lavage and intra-articular administration of antibiotics, l avage and arthroscopic debridement with or without partial synovectomy, or lavage and arthrotomy to debride infected bone and systemic administration of antibiotics. Seventy-three foals survived to be discharged from hospital , and approximately a third raced. Isolation of Salmonella spp from synovia l fluid was associated with an unfavorable prognosis for survival and multi system disease was associated with an unfavorable prognosis for survival an d ability to race; other variables were not significantly associated with s urvival and ability to race. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-With treatment, the prognosis for surviv al,of foals with septic arthritis was favorable, whereas prognosis for abil ity to race was unfavorable. Multisystem disease, isolation of Salmonella s pp from synovial fluid, involvement of multiple joints, and synovial fluid neutrophil count greater than or equal to 95% at admission may be of progno stic value.