Comparison of two techniques for injection of the podotrochlear bursa in horses.

Objective: To compare accuracy of 2 methods for injection of the podotrochlear bursa in horses.

Design: Observational study.

Animals: 17 French Standardbreds.

Procedure: In each horse, contrast medium was injected into the podotrochlear bursa of 1 foot by use of a distal palmar approach with the needle inserted parallel to the sole (DPPS) and into the podotrochlear bursa of the other foot by use of a distal palmar approach to the navicular position (DPNP). Podotrochlear bursa injection was evaluated by means of radiographic examination in all horses and postmortem examination in 6.

Results: Contrast medium was successfully injected into the podotrochlear bursa in 6 of 16 feet in which the DPPS method was used and 14 of 17 feet in which the DPNP method was used; these results were significantly different. Failure was attributed to contrast medium invading the distal interphalangeal joint, contrast medium pooling palmar to the deep digital flexor tendon, contrast medium located in the podotrochlear bursa and the distal interphalangeal joint, contrast medium located in the podotrochlear bursa and the area palmar to the deep digital flexor tendon, and an inability to inject contrast medium despite adequate needle placement.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: Results suggest that the DPNP technique can be used successfully for injection into the podotrochlear bursa in horses. However, radiographic assessment should be used to confirm that material was injected into the bursa.