de Clifford LT, Lowe JN, McKellar CD, McGowan C, David F. A Double-Blinded Positive Control Study Comparing the Relative Efficacy of 2.5% Polyacrylamide Hydrogel (PAAG) Against Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA) And Sodium Hyaluronate (HA) in the Management of Middle Carpal Joint Lameness in Racing Thoroughbreds.
J Equine Vet Sci 2021;
107:103780. [PMID:
34802625 DOI:
10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103780]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this prospective double-blinded positive control study was to compare the efficacy of 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% PAAG) in the management of middle carpal joint lameness in Thoroughbreds against treatments of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) or sodium hyaluronate (HA). A total of 31 flat-racing Thoroughbreds with lameness (grade 1-3/5) localized to the carpus by intra-articular analgesia were selected. Following a radiological assessment of the carpi confirming the absence of fragment/fracture, the horses were randomly assigned for intra-articular treatment with either 2 ml of 2.5% PAAG, 12 mg TA or 20 mg HA (followed by two further intravenous treatments of 40 mg, at weekly intervals in the HA group only), by a treating veterinarian. All horses were rested for 48 hours post-treatment and then re-entered an unaltered training regimen. Subsequent examinations at 2, 4, and 6 weeks were performed by a blinded examining veterinarian for all groups, while horses treated with 2.5% PAAG were monitored for 12 weeks for recurrence of lameness. Significantly more joints treated with 2.5% PAAG were lame free (83%) at 6 weeks compared to TA (27%; P = .007) and to HA (40%; P = .04). There was no significant difference between TA and HA groups at any time. All the joints treated within 2.5% PAAG that were lame free at 6 weeks (10/12) were still lame-free at 12 weeks. In conclusion, treatment with 2.5% PAAG led to statistically superior results compared to TA and HA in the management of selected middle carpal joint lameness in flat-racing Thoroughbreds, with therapeutic effects persisting up to 12 weeks.
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