Therapeutic ultrasound (1 Watt/cm²) in experimental acute traumatic arthritis in the equines*

Acute aseptic arthritis was induced in left intercarpal joint with 0.5 mL of turpentine oil in 8 clinically healthy donkeys aged 3–4 years and weighing 80–100 kg. Group A (4 animals) served as a control whereas in group B (4 animals), pulsed ultrasound therapy was applied for 10 minutes daily @ 1 Watt/cm² starting 48 hours after the induction of arthritis for 7 days. The rectal temperature rose significantly for the first three consecutive days in both groups. There was an early return to normal stance and weight bearing in the treatment group. The degree of severity of lameness persisted for a longer time in control animals. Synovial TLC increased progressively in group A and was significantly high till day 20. In ultrasound treated animals, the synovial TLC decreased as the treatment started. Blood TLC and DLC did not show any significant variation in both the groups. Synovial total proteins increased significantly on day 2 after induction of arthritis in all the animals and remained so at all subsequent intervals in control group. With the treatment of ultrasound therapy, it decreased and was near normal in the treatment group. Synovial alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly at various recording intervals in both groups. Synovial and plasma LDH activity was found significantly increased in group A and no significant change was observed in group B.