Abstract
The aim of this article was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in a clinical diagnosis of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in Holstein-Friesian cows. The distended size of the dorsal pouch of the distal interphalangeal joint was observed in all cases. The mean distances between the dorsal or palmar pouch of the distal interphalangeal joint and the surface of P2 was 7.9 mm (range 5.8-12.3 mm) and 13.8 mm (10.8-16.4 mm), respectively. The ultrasonography from the palmar side also delineated sole abscess, rupture of deep flexor tendon, distal sesamoiditis and effusion of the tendon sheath. These results suggest that ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method to add more information to the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in cattle.
