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Updated: May 10, 2026
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Risk of septic arthritis after intra-articular medication: a study of 16,624 injections in Thoroughbred racehorses
C M Steel1, R R Pannirselvam, G A Anderson
1The Equine Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia. csteel@unimelb.edu.au
Objectives:
The aims of this study were to determine the risk of septic arthritis after intra-articular medication (IAM) and to identify potential risk factors for this complication.
Design:
A retrospective and prospective descriptive study of prevalence, and matched case-control study for risk factors.
Results:
Of 16,624 joints injected in 1103 horses at 6695 horse-visits, septic arthritis occurred as a complication in 13 joints (13 horses). The risk of septic arthritis following IAM was 7.8 cases per 10,000 injections or 1 case per 1279 injections. Veterinarian and type of corticosteroid were identified as risk factors.
Conclusions:
Septic arthritis is an uncommon complication of IAM in horses, yet the risk is substantially higher than that reported in humans. The risk was higher for some veterinarians; identifying the reason for this was beyond the scope of this study, yet we presume they may have paid less attention to strict aseptic technique. A larger study may be needed to clarify whether the risk is greater with certain types of corticosteroids and to identify additional risk factors.
