Equine osteoarthritis: is intra-articular polyacrylamide gel more effective than corticosteroid in improving lameness?

Bowkett-Pritchard, C.

Veterinary Evidence (2022) 7:

DOI: 10.18849/ve.v7i1.413

Abstract

PICO question: In horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis, is treatment with intra-articular polyacrylamide gel more likely to reduce the severity of clinical signs associated with lameness when compared to treatment with intra-articular corticosteroid? Clinical bottom line: Category of research question: Treatment. The number and type of study designs reviewed: Twelve studies; four case series, three uncontrolled prospective studies, one non-blinded, non-randomised control trial, one non-blinded randomised control trial, two systematic reviews and one systematic review and meta-analysis. Strength of evidence: Weak. Outcomes reported: Studies examined: Clinical signs relating to lameness after use of corticosteroid or polyacrylamide gel to treat osteoarthritis; improvement in lameness and treatment success (including return to work in some papers). Conclusion: It is not possible to recommend one treatment over the other given the absence of studies which provide direct comparison. This highlights the need for further controlled and comparative studies.

Citation

Bowkett-Pritchard, C. (2022). Equine osteoarthritis: is intra-articular polyacrylamide gel more effective than corticosteroid in improving lameness? Veterinary Evidence, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v7i1.413 Osteoarthritis, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, therapy, lameness, comparisons, clinical aspects, drug therapy, racehorses, osteoarthritis, surveys, Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Gels

Keywords

• Osteoarthritis
• meta-analysis
• systematic reviews
• therapy
• lameness
• comparisons
• clinical aspects
• drug therapy
• racehorses
• osteoarthritis
• surveys
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Gels