Equine Health Update Issue 2 Volume 19 | Page 9

EQUINE | Abstracts Abstracts Equine Vet J. 2017 Jan 27. An ultrasound-guided, tendon-sparing, lateral ap- proach to injection of the navicular bursa. Nottrott K, De Guio C, Khairoun A, Schramme M Abstract BACKGROUND: Navicular disease in the horse often requires injection of the navicular bursa. We have developed an ultrasound- guided, lateral needle approach to navicular bursocen- tesis, which avoids penetration of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and the need for radiographic control. OBJECTIVES: To describe and evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an ultrasound-guided, lateral bursocentesis technique. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric and in vivo experiments. METHODS: The navicular bursa in 62 cadaveric forelimbs of 31 hors- es and in both forelimbs of 26 live horses, positioned with the foot flexed in a navicular block, were submitted to lateral, ultrasound-guided injection of 1.5 ml radio- contrast agent. Lateromedial radiographs were taken to locate the contrast. A second injection of 0.5 ml methy- lene blue was administered during needle withdrawal in cadaveric limbs to investigate the needle pathway dur- ing dissection. RESULTS: Contrast agent was successfully deposited in the na- vicular bursa in 104 of 114 (91%) limbs and in the na- vicular bursa alone in 89 of 114 (78%) limbs. Dissection showed no evidence of penetration of the DDFT in ca- daver limbs. Failure to inject the navicular bursa was sig- nificantly associated with poor quality of the ultrasound image (P = 0.04) and resulted in aberrant injection of the distal interphalangeal joint in five of 114 (4%) limbs, the peribursal soft tissues in four of 114 (4%) limbs and the digital flexor tendon sheath in one of 114 (0.9%) limbs. Synovial fluid was observed at the needle hub in 58% of live horses. MAIN LIMITATIONS: It is unknown whether injection results obtained in the limbs of horses without disease can be extrapolated to horses with clinical disease of the podotrochlear appara- tus. The localisation of contrast medium on radiographs may not accurately reflect the behaviour of local anaes- thetic solution or therapeutic medications injected in the navicular bursa. CONCLUSIONS: This lateral, ultrasound-guided technique for injecting the navicular bursa is effective, does not penetrate the DDFT and avoids exposure of personnel to radiation. ______________________________________________ Equine Vet J. 2017 Jan 24. The association between exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage and race-day performance in Thorough- bred racehorses. Crispe EJ, Lester GD, Secombe CJ, Perera DI Abstract BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is com- monly implicated as a cause of poor athletic performance but there is limited and conflicting evidence for this as- sociation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine if EIPH, based on endoscopic examination after racing, is associated with a variety of novel and established performance parameters. • Volume 19 no 2 • June 2017 • 9