Abstract
Soontornvipart K., P. Kohout, P. Proks: Septic Arthritis in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 20 Cases (2000-2002). Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 405-413. Septic arthritis might be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and radiological findings in early stage of the disease. An early diagnosis is important for achieving favorable prognosis. Diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed by physical and orthopedic examinations, evaluation of radiographs and synovial fluid analysis including leukocyte and neutrophil counts, cytological examination and bacterial culture. Sensitivity and specificity of these diagnostic methods were retrospectively evaluated from clinical records of 18 dogs with 20 septic joints treated in the Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics in Small Animal Clinic at University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno from January 2000 till the end of 2002. Our patients affected by septic arthritis belonged to medium to large breed dogs. Infection of 13 septic joints in 11 patients was spread by hematogenous route, whereas the other 7 joints (in 7 patients) were infected during surgical procedure or after joint injury. Recurrence of hematogenous joint infection was found in 2 patients. In all the patients, exercise intolerance and painful reaction in affected joint were detected. Cultures of synovial fluid samples were positive in only 8 cases. Staphylococcus intermedius, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus Group 3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase-negative staphylococcus and Bacillus spp. were isolated. Radiographic findings included joint effusion, osteoarticular destruction and new bone proliferation and these were not specific for septic arthritis. We found that diagnostic methods used in this study showed high sensitivity but low specificity. Complex diagnostic approach including physical, orthopaedic and radiographic examinations, and synovial fluid evaluation should be performed to achieve correct diagnosis and effective treatment. Joint infection, radiography, synovial fluid, diagnosis, treatment
Highlights
Septic arthritis might be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and radiological findings in early stage of the disease
In two dogs (1 male Brasilian Fila and 1 male Giant Schnauzer), the recurrent septic arthritis was diagnosed during the three-year period, our study included 20 septic joints in 18 dogs
The unidentified septic arthritis may have been associated with hematogenous infection and/or direct infection as well because this dog has undergone previous joint surgery (2 years before septic joints occurred) but at the time of presentation, septic joint was associated with endocarditis
Summary
Septic arthritis might be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and radiological findings in early stage of the disease. Diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed by physical and orthopedic examinations, evaluation of radiographs and synovial fluid analysis including leukocyte and neutrophil counts, cytological examination and bacterial culture. Sensitivity and specificity of these diagnostic methods were retrospectively evaluated from clinical records of 18 dogs with 20 septic joints treated in the Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics in Small Animal Clinic at University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno from January 2000 till the end of 2002. Radiographic findings included joint effusion, osteoarticular destruction and new bone proliferation and these were not specific for septic arthritis. Complex diagnostic approach including physical, orthopaedic and radiographic examinations, and synovial fluid evaluation should be performed to achieve correct diagnosis and effective treatment. The septic arthritis caused by bacterial infection is very rare (Schrader 1982).
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