In this method of treatment, a tourniquet is applied above the affected joint on the horses leg, and antibiotics are infused into a vein in the horses leg below the tourniquet. This large increase in antibiotic concentrations helps destroy the infection within the joint or physis. The tourniquet is only applied for a short period of time, usually not longer than 20-30 minutes. In Adult Horses Septic arthritis also can occur in older foals and adult horses. In older horses the problem usually is caused by a wound that involves the joint, allowing bacteria from the environment to cause joint infection.
Infection can also result by contamination from a joint injection.
However, if bacteria gain entrance to the joint through the injection, then infection can result. More importantly, the risk of infection depends on the drugs injected into the joint, as some substances might decrease the immune response within the joint. However, with the use of potent antibiotics added to these drugs, the risk of joint infection is greatly decreased. However, horses with septic arthritis from an open wound will not be as lame as those with closed joints, since the extra joint fluid is draining out instead of causing increased pressure and pain inside the joint. Otherwise, the diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis is the same as in the foal.