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Case Reports
. 2022 Jan;8(1):125-129.
doi: 10.1002/vms3.643. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

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

Melanie J Peel  1   2 , Rodrigo S Garcés Torres  1 , Marina Ivančić  3 , Benjamín E Alcántar Hernández  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

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

Melanie J Peel et al. Vet Med Sci. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Corynebacterium; arthrotomy; avian; ratite.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no interest in production of this manuscript.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Radiographic progression of osteomyelitis following diagnosis of intertarsal septic arthritis in an ostrich (Struthio camelus). (a) Craniomedial‐caudolateral oblique projection of the left intertarsal joint, one day post‐clinical presentation. The “L” marker indicates the craniolateral surface. There is proximal and caudal soft tissue thickening, severe lysis of the caudal aspect of the proximal tarsometatarsus, and irregular bone fragments caudal to the joint. (b) Craniocaudal view of the left intertarsal joint 15 days post‐initial presentation. The “L” marker is on the lateral aspect of the limb. There is progressive severe soft tissue thickening and ongoing lysis of the proximal tarsometatarsus. Gas lucencies adjacent to the medial epicondyle of the tibiotarsus were attributed to iatrogenic introduction of air during arthrocentesis. (c) Craniocaudal view of the left intertarsal joint 48 days post‐initial presentation. The “L marker denotes the lateral surface. There is ongoing lysis, progressive soft tissue thickening, irregular periosteal proliferation along the proximal tarsometatarsus and development of joint space collapse.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Caudomedial intertarsal arthrotomy approach in an ostrich (Struthio camelus) for management of septic arthritis. (a) Fibrinous and caseous material is seen within the intertarsal joint on initial caudomedial approach. Caudal is to the left of the photo. (b) Seven days post‐op healing of intertarsal joint arthrotomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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