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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / A retrospective multicenter study on the use of locking comp...
Veterinary surgery : VS2021; 50(5); 954-965; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13618

A retrospective multicenter study on the use of locking compression plates for scapulohumeral arthrodesis in small equids.

Abstract: To report on technical aspects and outcomes after scapulohumeral arthrodesis (SHA) with a locking compression plate (LCP) in small equids. Methods: Retrospective multicenter case series. Methods: Client-owned Shetland Ponies, Miniature Shetlands, and American Miniature Horses (n = 15). Methods: Inclusion criteria were completed SHA with an LCP to treat scapulohumeral osteoarthritis/subluxation and availability of postoperative radiographs. Contributing surgeons completed a questionnaire to collect data. All radiographs were reviewed for this study. Follow-up information was obtained via re-admission to the hospital or telephone interview of the referring veterinarian or owner. Outcome was subjectively scored as excellent, good, moderate, or poor based on lameness and function. Results: Sixteen SHAs were performed in 15 equids (body weight 65-145 kg) by nine different surgeons. A narrow 4.5/5.0 mm LCP (7-16 holes) was used in 14 of the 16 SHAs. Follow-up was collected 2.5 years after surgery (median; range: 9 weeks to 10 years). Major complications related to the SHAs were noted in 4 of the 13 horses alive long term, consisting of implant failure (n = 1), surgical site infection (n = 2), and scapular fracture (n = 1). The outcome was graded as excellent in 4, good in 5, and moderate in 4 horses. Two ponies were euthanized because scapulohumeral osteoarthritis and subluxation developed in the contralateral limb. Conclusions: Although major complications occurred in about one-third of ponies, SHA with LCP led to long-term survival with good function in most ponies. Conclusions: SHA with an LCP offers a high chance for good long-term outcome in small equids although contralateral disease may affect outcome.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-08 PubMed ID: 33682947DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13618Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article studies the usage and effectiveness of locking compression plates in scapulohumeral arthrodesis, a surgical procedure, on small horse breeds. The study is retrospective, meaning it uses past cases and patient data to examine the outcomes of this procedure, and found that, despite a moderate rate of complications, most horses showed good long-term functionality post-surgery.

Study Methodology

  • The study relied on past patient data of small horse breeds (Shetland Ponies, Miniature Shetlands, and American Miniature Horses) that underwent scapulohumeral arthrodesis (SHA), an operation that fuses the shoulder joint, using a locking compression plate (LCP), a type of medical hardware used to repair fractures.
  • The inclusion criteria specified that the procedure should have been performed for the treatment of scapulohumeral osteoarthritis or subluxation, meaning the dislocation or instability of the shoulder joint. Furthermore, postoperative radiographs had to be available for review.
  • The data were collected through questionnaires completed by the participating surgeons and from postoperative radiographs. They also followed-up with the horse owners or the veterinary doctors that referred the cases to understand the state of the horse after the procedure. The results were then scored as excellent, good, moderate, or poor based on degrees of lameness and function.

Study Results

  • 15 ponies and horses underwent 16 SHAs, performed by nine different surgeons. Most of the procedures (14 out of 16) used a narrow 4.5/5.0 mm LCP.
  • The follow-up period ranged from 9 weeks to 10 years, with a median follow-up at 2.5 years post-surgery.
  • Major complications arose in about one-third of the cases. These included device failure, surgical site infection, and scapular (shoulder blade) fractures.
  • However, the horses had overall good outcomes, with 4, 5, and 4 horses scoring excellent, good, and moderate outcomes, respectively. The two ponies had to be euthanized, as they developed osteoarthritis and subluxation in their opposite legs.

Study Conclusions

  • Despite the observed complications, the majority of the operated horses displayed good long-term functionality. Therefore, the study concludes that SHA using LCP is a viable surgical treatment for scapulohumeral osteoarthritis or subluxation in small horse breeds.
  • However, contralateral disease, or the occurrence of the same pathological condition in the opposite limb, might affect the outcome adversely. This provides a potential area for further study and suggests considerations for the care and management of small equids post-SHA.

Cite This Article

APA
Somm F, Suárez Sánchez-Andrade J, Martens A, Zedler ST, Klopfenstein MD, Boswell JC, Bladon BM, Lischer CJ, Richardson DW, Auer JA, Fürst AE, Kümmerle JM. (2021). A retrospective multicenter study on the use of locking compression plates for scapulohumeral arthrodesis in small equids. Vet Surg, 50(5), 954-965. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13618

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 5
Pages: 954-965

Researcher Affiliations

Somm, Fabienne
  • Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Suárez Sánchez-Andrade, José
  • Diagnostic Imaging Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martens, Ann
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Zedler, Steven T
  • University of Queensland, Equine Specialist Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Klopfenstein, Micael D
  • Department of Equine Surgery, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Boswell, Jane C
  • Liphook Equine Hospital, Liphook, Hampshire, UK.
Bladon, Bruce M
  • Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery, Newbury, UK.
Lischer, Christoph J
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Richardson, Dean W
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Auer, Jörg A
  • Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Fürst, Anton E
  • Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Kümmerle, Jan M
  • Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthrodesis / instrumentation
  • Arthrodesis / methods
  • Arthrodesis / veterinary
  • Body Size
  • Bone Plates / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis / veterinary
  • Pressure
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Wound Infection / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

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