Bovine. Fresian. 5 Months of age. Female. Presented for a lameness of the hind left limb of 2 weeks duration and swelling in the area of the hip joint. Radiographs of the hip joint were taken. Faux-profile (mediolateral oblique view) of the right (on the top image) and on the left (on the bottom image) hip joints. Radiographic findings and diagnosis
- The right hip joint is normal, the normal appearance of the fovea capitis is a smooth, well defined identation of the femoral head.
- Compared to the right, the left fovea capitis has a very irregular border, is ill defined ending in a bone defect with flattening of the caudal part of the femoral head (arrows). This region is surrounded by an irregular rim of increased radio opacity (arrowhead).
- The opposing border of the acetabulum is as well more irregulary defined than the contralateral (open arrow).
- The radiographic diagnosis is septic arthritis of the left hip joint with aggressive (lytic) bone lesions.
Radiographic examination Close up of the Faux profile of the left hip joint. Comments
- The cell count of the left hip joint was more than 140000cells/μl.
- The joint was regularly flushed and treated with intraarticular injection of antibiotics over a period of almost three week.
- With a guarded prognosis the patient was discharged on the owner‘s wish.
- In calves, primary septic arthritis is quite rare and develops from direct joint penetration by a contaminated foreign body
- Scondary septic arthritis results from spread of pathogens form an adjacent localised focus.
- Tertiary septic arthritis results from systemic or haematogenous spreas from a focus elsewhere in the animal.
- Joint disease in calves are usually tertiary septic arthritis with primary infection most likely affecting the umbilicus (abscess with extension along the umbilical veins).
- Otherwisradiographic e spread can be from a primary enteric infection.
- The findings initially can be subtle and of difficult interpretation as limited to focal soft tissue swelling.
- After 2 to 3 weeks, changes suggestive of joint distruction start to be apparent.
