Each approach has advantages/drawbacks that could be favoured for selected purposes, but additional work is required to evaluate them on clinical cases.

The radiographs of 102 French trotters presented with signs of back pain were reviewed retrospectively, and a control group of 16 French trotters without back pain was analysed. The age, sex, type of race, number of starts, earnings and index of performance were recorded. Radiological evaluation was performed from the 14th thoracic (T14) to the third lumbar (L3) vertebra. Impingement of the spinous processes (ISP), periarticular proliferation of synovial intervertebral articulations (PP-SIA) and sclerosis of SIA (S-SIA) were located and graded. Radiological lesions were identified in 10 (62 per cent) of horses in the control group and 98 (96 per cent) of horses in the clinical group. The number of affected horses, the number of radiological lesions per horse and the mean number of affected intervertebral spaces were significantly higher in the clinical group. For ISP, the number of affected horses was not significantly different between the groups, but the number of affected interspinous spaces and the grade of lesions were significantly higher in the clinical group. For PP-SIA, the number of affected horses, the number of affected SIA and the grade of lesions were significantly higher in the clinical group. For S-SIA, the number of affected horses and the number of affected SIA were not significantly different between the groups but the grade of lesions was significantly higher in the clinical group. In both groups, ISP was most commonly encountered between T15-T18 and PP-SIA and S-SIA were most commonly encountered between T17-L2. Radiographic lesions of the back were less severe and more localised in horses without back pain than in those with back pain.

Synovial nucleated cell counts and total protein concentrations decreased after arthroscopic lavage and repeated intra-articular administration of antibiotic in horses and foals with septic arthritis. Synovial nucleated cell count is limited as a monitoring tool during treatment of septic arthritis.

Synovial fluid analysis is utilized to diagnose septic synovitis. However, not all cases are clearly and rapidly discernible with the diagnostic tools available in the laboratory. Serum amyloid A (SAA), an acute phase protein, has been shown to be elevated in synovial fluid from inflamed synovial structures. The goal of this study is to describe the correlation between two diagnostic tests measuring equine SAA levels in septic and non-septic synovial structures and to understand the correlation between an elevated SAA result and synovial sepsis. Prospective estimation of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of two tests, handheld and ELISA, measuring SAA in synovial fluid was completed in 62 horses presented with injured synovial structures. The comparison was made to a reference diagnosis based on white cell count, percentage of neutrophils, intracellular bacteria and bacterial culture on synovial fluid. Handheld test levels were classified as: 4 lines visible—SAA level negative; 3 lines visible—SAA level mild; 2 lines visible—SAA level moderate; and 1 line visible—SAA level severe and compared to the numerical value obtained with ELISA test. The ELISA SAA test had an area under the curve of 0.88 (0.78–0.98). An ELISA cut-off of 23.95 μg/mL maximized Se and Sp. This cutoff gave a Se of 0.93 (0.66–1.00) and Sp of 0.77 (0.63–0.88). The handheld test was highly correlated with the ELISA SAA test (Spearman rank correlation 0.96) and at a cutoff of moderate or higher for positive results gave identical Se and Sp. Se and Sp of synovial fluid SAA are very reliable when clinical signs of synovitis are present for >6 h. This test, in conjunction with traditional methods, can assist practitioners to rapidly diagnose and expedite appropriate intervention of synovial sepsis.

Summary Wry nose is a rare condition. The resultant deviation of the nasal septum and maxilla/premaxilla often complicates deglutition and respiration. Traditional treatment consists of internal fixation with pins after an osteotomy and a rib graft. A 17‐month‐old Arab yearling was presented for evaluation of deviation of the maxilla and nasal septum. This deviation was managed using an external fixation device after bilateral osteotomy of the maxilla/premaxilla and reduction of the deviation. Partial resection of the nasal septum by a dorsal approach was also performed. The dental malocclusion and respiratory noise were corrected.