Osteoarthritis treatments using corticosteroid injections in the joint is something owners of senior horses might have to face. If so, a recent review of research about repeated corticosteroid injections points to negative long-term effects. This is something to discuss with your treating veterinarian. Keep in mind that some short-term benefits can occur with certain corticosteroids. Your veterinarian is your best guide for treatment options for osteoarthritis.

A presentation at the 2023 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention discussed a review of studies on repeated corticosteroid injections into equine joints.

Osteoarthritis and Corticosteroid Research

The research showed that triamcinolone acetonide was the most widely represented corticosteroid in the literature. The researchers noted that “symptom-modifying changes were better at first injections for triamcinolone acetonide with a decrease in its improvements over time.”

However, other researchers feel that there is decreased efficacy over time. The thought is that if the horse is not resonding to treatment, re-check the diagnosis. Make sure that the joint is still the primary problem.

The triamcinolone researchers noted no changes in osteoarthritis clinical signs for methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and betamethasone (BTM).

The research paper stated that “disease-modifying changes appeared to improve in shorter follow-ups, but degenerative changes were evidenced on longer term for triamcinolone acetonide. MPA showed a mostly negative impact, while BTM treatment showed no significant positive or negative changes.”

They summarized by explaining inconsistencies in clinical improvements among corticosteroids exist, but none of those reported on showed enough positive effects long term to justify frequent use.

“Degenerative changes might negatively affect joints at longer follow-ups,” the study authors stated.

Editor’s note: This AAEP report was titled “Efficacy and Safety of Multiple Intra-articular Corticosteroid injection for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review.” It was published in the 2023 AAEP Proceedings. The authors were Paula Keiko Anadão Tokawa, DVM; Raquel Yvonne Arantes Baccarin, DVM, PhD; and Gustavo Zanotto, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR.

  • Kimberly S. Brown
    Kimberly S. Brown is an award-winning writer and publisher. She is the Editorial Director for My Senior Horse. Brown spent 10 years at Equine Network, parent company of My Senior Horse. Prior to that she worked for three years in equine nutrition after she retired from nearly 30 years working at The Blood-Horse. Brown spent the last 15 years of her time at that organization creating and developing The Horse and TheHorse.com.
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