A comparison of arthroscopy to ultrasonography for identification of pathology of the equine stifle.
Abstract: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic capability of arthroscopy and ultrasonography for the detection of pathological change in equine stifle joints. Although descriptions of the arthroscopic and ultrasonographic boundaries of the normal femorotibial joint exist, there are few examples in the literature comparing the pathological changes observed with each imaging modality. Objective: To evaluate and compare arthroscopic and ultrasonographic examinations for characterising pathological change in the stifle joint. To describe how the results of arthroscopic and ultrasonographic examinations may differ in characterising the severity of lesions and to evaluate which lesions are best assessed with each modality. Methods: Retrospective review of ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examinations. Methods: The structures of the stifle joint were evaluated and graded for pathological change by scoring arthroscopic and ultrasonographic examinations. The presence and severity of the lesions were then compared between each modality. Results: Medial meniscal lesions were detected more often with ultrasonography than with arthroscopy. Conversely, arthroscopy was better for detection of cranial medial meniscotibial ligament (CrMMTL) tearing. Articular cartilage defects were best detected with arthroscopy and periarticular osteophytes of the medial femoral condyle with ultrasonography. Four cases had defects within one of the patellar ligaments, all of which were only characterised with ultrasonography. Conclusions: Ultrasonography and arthroscopy should be combined to best evaluate pathology of the stifle, since each modality has its own limitations depending on the location and type of lesion.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-02-25 PubMed ID: 26582764DOI: 10.1111/evj.12541Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Arthroscopy
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Imaging Techniques
- Joint Health
- Ligaments
- Musculoskeletal System
- Retrospective Study
- Stifle Joint
- Ultrasound
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article compares the effectiveness of arthroscopy and ultrasonography in detecting and assessing pathological changes in the stifle joint of horses.
Objectives of the Study
- The main aim of the study was to evaluate and contrast arthroscopic and ultrasonographic examinations in characterising pathological changes in the equine stifle joint.
- The research also aimed to describe how the results of these two imaging techniques could differ in characterising the severity of lesions and to evaluate which types of pathologies are best detected with each modality.
Methodology
- The study used a retrospective review of equine stifle joint examinations performed using both ultrasonography and arthroscopy.
- The researchers examined the structures of the stifle joint and graded the pathological changes by scoring the lesions detected on both types of exams.
- The detected lesions’ presence and severity were subsequently compared across the two diagnostic methods.
Results and Findings
- The research found that ultrasonography identified medial meniscal lesions more frequently than arthroscopy.
- On the contrary, arthroscopy was more effective in discovering tears in the cranial medial meniscotibial ligament (CrMMTL).
- The study revealed that arthroscopy was most effective in detecting articular cartilage defects, while ultrasonography was best at finding periarticular osteophytes on the medial femoral condyle.
- The study also identified defects in one of the patellar ligaments in four cases, visible only through ultrasonography.
Conclusions
- Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that both ultrasonography and arthroscopy should be employed together for an effective and comprehensive evaluation of stifle joint pathology.
- This conclusion is based on the observed fact that each diagnostic modality has its own strengths and limitations, which are contingent upon the location and type of the lesion being investigated.
Cite This Article
APA
Adrian AM, Barrett MF, Werpy NM, Kawcak CE, Chapman PL, Goodrich LR.
(2016).
A comparison of arthroscopy to ultrasonography for identification of pathology of the equine stifle.
Equine Vet J, 49(3), 314-321.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12541 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Statistics, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Retrospective Studies
- Stifle / diagnostic imaging
- Stifle / pathology
- Stifle / surgery
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Bolz NM, Sánchez-Andrade JS, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS. Diagnostic Performance of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Arthrography and 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Diagnose Experimentally Created Articular Cartilage Lesions in Equine Cadaver Stifles. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 14;13(14).
- Hoey S, O'Sullivan J, Byrne J, Devine S, Toomey W, McAllister H, Skelly C. Ultrasound screening protocol for osteochondrosis at selected predilection sites in thoroughbred yearlings. Ir Vet J 2022 Apr 27;75(1):8.
- Møller-Jensen M, Blomquist MH, Mortensen CL, Olsson IKC, Cuevas-Ramos G. Development of an Ultrasound Technique to Evaluate the Popliteal Complex in the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 22;12(7).
- Aßmann AD, Ohlerth S, Suárez Sánchez-Andráde J, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS. Ex vivo comparison of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and multidetector computed tomography arthrography to identify artificial soft tissue lesions in equine stifles. Vet Surg 2022 May;51(4):648-657.
- Ribitsch I, Oreff GL, Jenner F. Regenerative Medicine for Equine Musculoskeletal Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 19;11(1).
- Rubio-Martínez LM, Redding WR, Bladon B, Wilderjans H, Payne RJ, Tessier C, Geffroy O, Parker R, Bell C, Collingwood FA. Fracture of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia in horses treated by arthroscopic fragment removal (21 horses). Equine Vet J 2018 Jan;50(1):60-64.
- Davidson EJ, Stefanovski D, Slack J, Manzi TJ. Ultrasound-guided caudal cervical articular process arthrocentesis is accurate in live horses with and without arthropathy. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):398-405.
- Dubuc J, Schneider MJ, Dubuc V, Richard H, Pinsard M, Bancelin S, Legare F, Girard C, Laverty S. Degradation of Proteoglycans and Collagen in Equine Meniscal Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Jun 11;25(12).
- Ducrocq M, Kamus L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Janvier V, Laverty S. Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):203-216.
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