Lameness related to arthropathies are common and so very important to Equine Veterinary Medicine, considering that almost 33% of all lamenesses are due to arthropathies. The present experiment aimed the evaluation of synovial fluid estability after cooling and freezing and its possible therapeutical utilization. Samples of synovial fluid were taken from 25 equines, from both intertarsus proximall joints by arthrocentesis. Samples from each animal were mixed and then divided into 3 aliquotes, and analysed fresh (GI), after cooling (GII) and after freezing (GIII). The protein evaluation showed significant difference between GI and GII and II and III, but GI and GIII were statistically similar. Leukocytes counting showed GI and GII, and GI and GIII to be statistically different, but no difference was seen between GII and GIII. Lymphocyte was the predominant cell in 96% of the cases. Morphological abnormalities in 8% of the leukocytes of animals in GII and in 64% of those in GIII were found. Mucin clot showed no difference betwen all groups studied. Based on the results, it was possible to conclude that the synovial fluid has different protein and cellularity values after cooling and freezing, but is still in the normal range.
equine; synovial fluid; protein; cellularity; mucin clot
