Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints to treat osteoarthritis in 17 horses.

This research examines the outcome of arthrodesis, a surgical joint fusion technique, used to treat osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of 17 horses. The study concluded that this technique, using a locking compression plate and metallic tension band, resulted in good long-term outcomes with few complications.

Research Approach

• As a retrospective case series, the study looked back on medical records of 17 horses treated for osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints from 2004 to 2017.
• The method of treatment was arthrodesis, a procedure that fuses two or more bones to limit or eliminate painful movement.
• The technique used in this arthrodesis procedure combined a locking compression plate (LCP) with a metallic tension band.
• The records reviewed included information about age, sex, breed, the limb affected, and lameness grade before the operation.

Surgical Variables and Outcome Analysis

• The surgical data recorded included details such as the implants used, duration of the surgery, postoperative angle of the joint, intraoperative complications, and the method of anesthetic recovery.
• Outcomes were determined from the medical records and through phone interviews, presumably with the horses’ owners or caregivers.
• It was found that out of 17 horses, 13 had a lameness score of 4 out of 5.

Results and Conclusion

• All horses survived the surgery, were discharged, and were still alive more than six months postoperatively, with no long-term complications reported.
• All the animals were allowed unrestricted turnout post-procedure, and one horse was even able to be ridden lightly.
• No postoperative infections or implant failures were reported, indicating a high success rate of the surgical procedure.
• The only noted complications were cast sores, which appeared in 4 cases.
• The findings suggest that arthrodesis of the MCP/MTP joint is an effective treatment for horses suffering from osteoarthritis that is resistant to medical management.
• The research concludes that the morbidity and prognosis after fetlock arthrodesis for osteoarthritis appear more favorable than in cases treated after traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus.