Concentration of methylprednisolone in the centrodistal joint after administration of methylprednisolone acetate in the tarsometatarsal joint

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal 2005-03, Vol.37 (2), p.172-174
• Main Authors: Serena, A, Schumacher, J, Schramme, M.C, Degraves, F, Bell, E, Ravis, W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacokinetics; Cadaver; centrodistal joint; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - veterinary; diffusion; dosage; horse; Horse Diseases - drug therapy; Horses; Injections, Intra-Articular - veterinary; joints (animal); Joints - chemistry; Joints - metabolism; lameness; Methylprednisolone - administration & dosage; Methylprednisolone - analogs & derivatives; Methylprednisolone - analysis; Methylprednisolone - pharmacokinetics; Methylprednisolone Acetate; osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - drug therapy; Osteoarthritis - veterinary; phalanges; prednisolone; Synovial Fluid - chemistry; Synovial Fluid - metabolism; synovial sheaths; tarsometatarsal joint; therapeutics
• ISSN: 0425-1644; 2042-3306
• DOI: 10.2746/0425164054223778

Summary Reasons for performing study: The centrodistal (CD) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints are often injected individually with a corticosteroid to resolve lameness caused by osteoarthritis (OA). There are no data available regarding diffusion of methylprednisolone (MP) from the TMT joint to the CD joint. Hypothesis: A therapeutic concentration of MP diffuses into the CD joint after methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) is administered into the TMT joint. Objective: To measure the concentration of MP in the CD joint after MPA was administered into the TMT joint. Methods: MPA was administered into a TMT joint of 16 horses. At different times, the ipsilateral CD joint of these horses was injected with a small amount of saline and recovered saline was measured for concentration of MP using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Six hours after administration of MPA into the TMT joint, a therapeutic concentration of MP was found in all 10 CD joints sampled at this time. Conclusions: Horses with pain arising from the distal 2 joints of the hock can be treated by administering MPA into the TMT joint alone. Potential relevance: Administering MPA into the TMT joint only, to treat OA of the distal 2 hock joints, reduces the difficulties and risks associated with centesis of the CD joint.