Joint Trauma

• Sudden
• Varying severity
• Acute injuries:
  • Sprains
    • Minor - resolved without any consequences
    • More severe may result in persistent capsular and ligament laxity -> degenerative arthrosis -> impaired function
  • Subluxations
  • Luxations
  • Intra-articular fractures
    • Fracture healing may cause discontinuity of the articular surfaces
  • Puncture wounds to foot may allow infection to travel to joints, bursae and tendon sheaths
  • Haemorrhage into joint
    • May occur in animals with clotting defects without special trauma
      • Usually polyaricular
      • Recurrent
      • May cause pitting of articular surfaces -> degenerative arthrosis