Clinical and radiological evaluation of homologous synovia in the treatment of acute aseptic arthritis in equines

Aseptic traumatic arthritis of tibiotarsaljoint was induced by injecting turpentine oil intra-articularly in 12 adult donkeys which were divided into 2 equal groups. Animals of group I were treated with 3mL of fresh homogenous synovia intra-articularly group II with a combination of 1.5mL of fresh homogenous synovia and 1.5mL (37.5 mg) diclofenac sodium on 3rd post induction day, whereas group III served as untreated control. After induction of arthritis there was lameness, increase in pain, joint effusion and circumference, positive flexion response and reduced joint mobility. Following treatment maximum improvement in joint circumference, weight bearing and flexion test was seen in group II followed by groups I and III on 20th day. Radiographic soft tissue density of the affected joint which increased on day 3, showed early return to normal in group IIfollowed by groups I and III.