effects of continuous intraarticular infusion of gentamicin on synovial membrane and articular cartilage in the tarsocrural joint of horses objective to determine the effects of a continuous intraarticular infusion of gentamicin on the synovial membrane and articular cartilage in the tarsocrural joint of horsesanimals 6 healthy adult horsesprocedure a balloon infusion system attached to a catheter placed in the plantarolateral pouch of both tarsocrural joints in each horse was used for continuous gentamicin solution gm or balanced electrolyte solution bes delivery for 5 days cartilage and synovial membrane specimens were collected on day 5 from 3 horses and on day 14 from the remaining 3 horses both infused joints from each horse were assessed using gross evaluation and histologic scoring systemsresults significant differences in the histologic scores of synovial membrane specimens between the gm and bestreated joints at either 5 or 14 days were not observed safraninofast green staining scores were similar between cartilage specimens from gm and bestreated joints although the synovial membrane histologic scores and safraninofast green staining scores improved from day 5 to 14 the changes in scores were not significant loss of synovial intimal cells from villi was found more commonly in sections of synovial membrane from gmtreated joints compared with bestreated jointsconclusions and clinical relevance continuous infusion of gm into the tarsocrural joint of horses does not have significant effects on histologic scores of articular cartilage or synovial membrane compared with those infused with bes continuous infusion of gm into the tarsocrural joint of horses for 5 days is an acceptable method for the treatment of septic arthritis