Administration safety of medical-grade honey (MGH) in septic synovial structures in horses: 3 cases.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the postoperative use of intrasynovial honey as an antimicrobial after treatment for synovial sepsis in horses. One colt and 2 mares were presented with acute lameness, with or without an associated wound. All 3 cases were initially managed with surgical endoscopic or tenoscopic debridement and lavage for treatment of different synovial structures. Collection of synovial fluid was consistent with synovial sepsis and this was diagnosed in each case. All horses subsequently underwent arthroscopic lavage under general anesthetic and intraarticular or intrathecal medical-grade honey (MGH) was then instilled. All 3 cases recovered well and were free from lameness at all gaits. Although there is extensive research about the antimicrobial properties of honey and growing interest in the biocompatibility of honey in joints with the use of honey hydrogels in human medicine, the research in veterinary medicine is lacking. There are studies describing the antimicrobial properties of honey in healing wounds in horses, but there are no published studies describing the use of honey within a synovial structure. Further research is necessary to assess the biocompatibility of honey in equine articular cartilage. In the cases described in this article, the use of honey demonstrated a safe adjunctive therapy after conventional surgical treatment for septic arthritis.