Arthritis Classification

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Fibrinopurulent arthritis in cattle (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)
Suppurative arthritis in cattle (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)
  • Inflammation of intra-articular structures
  • In farm animals usually due to infection
  • In small animals usually due to non-infectious causes


  • Classification:
    • According to number of joints involved - polyarthritis
    • According to type of inflammatory exudate
      • Serous
        • Increased synovial fluid production
        • Resolves if uncomplicated
      • Fibrinous
        • Early stages:
          • Increased and more opaque synovial exudate
          • Enlarged hyperaemic villi
          • Small haemorrhages in synovial membrane
        • Later stages:
          • Less exudate
          • Thickend synovial connective tissue
          • Marked villi proliferation (branching in microscopic preparations)
          • Proliferated synovial tissue -> peripheral fibrous tissue attempting repair across defective surface = pannus
        • Mild cases resolve
        • More severe cases - residual inflammation remains
        • Most severe cases - organising fibrosis +/- ankylosis
      • Purulent
        • Usually from haemoatogenous spread e.g. neonatal navel ill
        • May extend from adjacent abscesses
        • More destructive
        • Erosion of articular surfaces to underlying bone
        • Forms abscesses
        • Possible fistulation to the skin


  • Caused by:
    • Trauma
    • Infectious organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses)
    • Foreign material (urate crystals = gout)
    • Immune-mediated disease