Management of intertarsal septic arthritis in an ostrich (Struthio camelus)

• Published in: Veterinary medicine and science Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 125 - 129
• Main Authors: Peel, Melanie J., Torres, Rodrigo S. Garcés, Ivančić, Marina, Hernández, Benjamín E. Alcántar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Analgesia; Anesthesia; Animals; Antibiotics; Arthritis; Arthritis, Infectious - diagnosis; Arthritis, Infectious - therapy; Arthritis, Infectious - veterinary; arthrotomy; avian; Blood; Case Report; Corynebacterium; EXOTICS; Female; Joint diseases; Laboratories; Pain perception; Pathogens; Perfusion; Prognosis; ratite; Struthio camelus; Struthioniformes; Wound healing; United States > US; ratite; arthrotomy; Corynebacterium; avian
• ISSN: 2053-1095; 2053-1095
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.643

A 7‐year‐old female ostrich (Struthio camelus) presented with lameness, left intertarsal joint swelling and a healing wound on the caudomedial aspect of the joint. Synovial culture revealed Corynebacterium species and radiographs were consistent with progressive septic arthritis. Multiple treatments were attempted including through‐and‐through joint lavage, intra‐articular antibiotics, caudomedial arthrotomy, and regional limb perfusion in conjunction with systemic antibiotics and analgesia. Euthanasia was ultimately performed due to prolonged recumbency and poor prognosis. This report describes novel therapies and a surgical approach utilized for treatment of intertarsal septic arthritis in an ostrich and exemplifies the poor prognosis described in other species presenting with non‐responsive septic arthritis of critical joints. A female ostrich (Struthio camelus) presented with left intertarsal septic arthritis that was culture positive for Corynebacterium. This report describes novel therapies and a surgical approach utilized for attempted treatment of intertarsal septic arthritis in an ostrich and exemplifies the poor prognosis described in other species presenting with non‐responsive septic arthritis of critical joints.