Ethanol injection for arthritis- thoughts?

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Pedb1969

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My mare is 15 and was diagnosed with arthritis in the pastern joint two years ago. Managed it with steroid injections since but effectiveness is diminishing and last one only lasted a month. Vet has suggested an ethanol injection into the joint. This destroys remaining cartilage and speeds up fusing of the joint, the idea being that once fused the pain and lameness go. Vets prefer this to invasive surgery these days. Does anyone have any experience of the injection they can share?
 
There are a few threads on here about it if you search. My personal experience isn't good. The horse I now have had this done in both hocks, my friend (who owned him at the time) her vet thought he was sound in 1 after 6 months of rehab, but the other still 2/10ths lame. She gave him to me for a years field rest and when he arrived I'd say more like 3 or 4/10ths in both. He has better days but this hard ground and he's really struggling.
Once it's done and failed there is nothing else other than the surgery.

I would quiz your vet on exactly how many they have done and how many have failed vs. sound 12 months later.
 
Made no difference to mine, infact 4 years later there is still no fusion. Had I known what I know now about it I would not have it done. Im not convinced by its rate of success or the supposed process and mine is actually improved massively by taking a completely different approach to how I ride him (he has kissing spines and si issues too) he is now completely sound with hocks not fused
 
Failed in my horses hocks..... But I have heard hock success stories so maybe we were unlucky? I have never heard of it used in Pastern joint before though so couldn't really comment on that.
 
My vet suggested it at one point but backed off and decided it was too harsh. Have you asked about Arthrimed? We tried this instead.
Sadly nothing worked for my boy but I liked the theory behind Arthrimed and it’s meant to last up to two years.
 
I didn't go for the Athramid as vet said he didn't think it would work in one of the hocks. It was a gamble at £800 so I went against it.
 
Thanks for all the messages everyone. I am satisfied it's not unethical having discussed it with 2 different vets because they have changed the way it is administered so it is no longer painful for the horse. Unfortunately they have now picked up additional arthritis in the coffin joint and are medicating that with steroid. They will only treat the pastern with ethanol if the steroid sorts the coffin joint. It never rains but it pours.
 
ester said:
Did they say what was different?
Click to expand...

Ester

Vets used to administer an injection of sodium monoiodoacetate many years ago but it was considered a painful treatment so with time and no doubt latest research methods they decided to opt for ethyl alcohol (95% proof alcohol) which is considered a less painful treatmet . I wasn't aware it could be treated as I know someone who had it done and they were told it was a last resort because there was no more space in the joint to inject anything else if it didn't work.
 
The OP was talking about the way it was administered not the substance used.

I'm well aware that different substances have been used historically but this thread is specifically about ethanol, not MIA.
 
It is the method of administration.
Contrast xrays are now taken to see the lie of the contrast dye so it doesn't go into the upper joint. The old type of chemical arthrodesis with different methods of injection content was extremely painful but this was many years ago.
 
Thanks ped, yes I wondered if it was that with regards to avoiding the upper joints with regards to hocks, though presumably that doesn't matter too much for pasterns? Is it a front or hind?

Fingers crossed for an improvement with the coffin joint.
 
ester said:
The OP was talking about the way it was administered not the substance used.

I'm well aware that different substances have been used historically but this thread is specifically about ethanol, not MIA.
Click to expand...

When you said "did they say what was different?" I assumed you were talking about why it wasn't considered unethical anymore.
 
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