REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Blackthorn (Prunus spinosus) is recognised as causing @entity281 and tissue reactions. OBJECTIVES: To describe the presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of @entity603 in the @entity1641 . STUDY DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: All cases in this prospective study presented with acute onset @entity603 within 24   h of thorn penetration, had a standardised clinical assessment, surgical treatment and aftercare. Surgical treatment was performed within 24   h of presentation under general anaesthesia, using a 2-stage procedure: Stage 1: perisynovial technique. Ultrasound guided placement of a 20 gauge 35   mm needle marker that is used as a guide for electrosurgical dissection onto perisynovial thorn fragments. Stage 2: endoscopic technique. Using standard and novel portals to locate and remove thorn fragments and debris from synovial structures. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases met the study inclusion criteria over a 24 month period. Mean lameness score on presentation was 4/5 (range 1-5). The most commonly affected structures @entity2720 (11/35) and tendon sheaths (10/35). Mean synovial fluid total protein was 50.5   g/l (range 18-116), and TNCC was 158   x   10(9) (range 21-412) on presentation and 12   x   10(9) (range 1-46) at 48   h post operatively. All synovial fluid cultures were negative. All @entity1641 were sound (grade 0) at 5 days post operatively and all returned to full work. CONCLUSIONS: There are a limited number of case series of @entity130 in @entity1 ; however, the consensus is that surgical treatment is required for a successful outcome. The 2-stage surgical procedure described, achieved accurate identification and removal of thorn material in all cases. In contrast to previous studies on @entity295 , these cases had a positive outcome despite high pre- and post operative synovial fluid total protein and TNCC. These findings suggest that @entity603 cases have a different aetiology from @entity603 originating from @entity295 or contamination. Ethical animal research:   The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham. Owners gave informed consent for their @entity1641 ' inclusion in the study. SOURCE OF FUNDING:    None. Competing interests:   None declared.

Clinical Research Abstracts of the British XXXX Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans'] @entity1641 :: ('9796', 'Species') :: ['horse', 'horses'] @entity295 :: ('MESH:D018805', 'Disease') :: ['sepsis', 'synovial sepsis'] @entity603 :: ('MESH:D013585', 'Disease') :: ['synovitis', 'thorn synovitis', 'blackthorn plant thorn synovitis'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infections'] @entity2720 :: ('MESH:D007592', 'Disease') :: ['were fetlock joints'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['blackthorn injury']
@entity1641 :: (9796,Species) :: ['Equine']
