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Veterinary surgery : VS2022; 51(3); 409-417; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13784

Arthroscopic findings and long-term outcomes in 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries (2008-2018).

Abstract: To report the findings and long-term outcome of 76 sport horses with meniscal injury. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Seventy-six horses with 93 meniscal injuries in 85 stifles. Methods: Medical records of sport horses diagnosed with meniscal injury during arthroscopy were reviewed. Owner follow up was obtained via telephone interview ≥1.5 years postoperatively. Preoperative and intraoperative findings, and postoperative treatments, were analyzed for potential association with return to athletic performance. Results: The medial meniscus was involved in 82.8% of cases, with grade 1 injuries diagnosed in 76.3% of menisci. Overall, 85.5% of horses returned to athletic performance, with 40% returning to their previous level. The grade of meniscal injury was associated with long-term outcome (P = .023). The presence of preoperative radiographic abnormalities (P = .259) or additional joint pathology (P = 1.00) was not associated with long-term outcomes. Fifty-nine stifles were treated with an orthobiologic: autologous conditioned serum, platelet-rich plasma, or marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. There was no association between the use of any orthobiologic and long-term outcome (P = .394). Conclusions: This is the first report on long-term outcome of sport horses with meniscal injuries following arthroscopic surgery. Overall, the long-term prognosis was fair, with 40% of horses returning to their previous level of use. Severity of the meniscal injury was a prognostic indicator for return to work. The presence of radiographic abnormalities or additional joint pathology, or the use of orthobiologics, was not associated with long-term outcome. Conclusions: These findings can help in prognostication for sport horses with meniscal injuries.
© 2022 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-17 PubMed ID: 35178749DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13784Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research study presents long-term outcomes and observations found when treating 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries through arthroscopic surgery. It found 40% of horses returning to their prior performance levels and shows no direct link between preoperative radiographic conditions, any other joint pathology, or usage of orthobiologics and long-term outcomes.

Methodology

  • The study is based on a retrospective case series of 76 sport horses, involving 93 meniscal injuries in 85 stifles (joints in a horse’s hind leg).
  • The team analyzed the medical records of these horses who were diagnosed with meniscal injuries during arthroscopy.
  • A follow-up with the owners happened via phone interview at least 1.5 years after the operation.
  • Preoperative and intraoperative findings, as well curative measures taken post-operation, were all analyzed for possible correlation with the horse’s return to its athletic performance.

Results

  • The biomedical research illustrated that the medial meniscus, the inner part of the meniscus, was involved in about 82.8% of the cases. On the other hand, grade 1 injuries were diagnosed in about 76.3% of the menisci, the curved part of a horse’s stifle.
  • The study displayed that 85.5% of horses went back to athletic performance in some capacity. At the same time, 40% managed to reach their previous athletic prowess.
  • The severity of the meniscal injury had a direct, significant impact on the long-term outcome of the horse’s return to work (P = .023).
  • An intriguing observation was that the presence of preoperative radiographic abnormalities (P = .259) or additional joint pathology (P = 1.00) didn’t have any significant correlation with long-term outcomes.
  • Moreover, 59 stifles were treated with an orthobiologic: either autologous conditioned serum, platelet-rich plasma, or marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Yet there was no association found between the use of any orthobiologic and the long-term outcome (P = .394).

Conclusion

  • The research provides a unique insight into the long-term outcomes of sport horses with meniscal injuries post their arthroscopic surgery.
  • Although the long-term prognosis was fair, and a substantial many returned to performance, only a part managed to attain their previous performance level.
  • Importantly, the study throws light on the critical role the severity of the meniscal injury plays as a prognostic factor for a horse’s return to work. On the flip side, it rules out the influence of pre-existing radiographic conditions, additional joint pathology, or the usage of orthobiologics on the long-term outcome.

Cite This Article

APA
Davis JG, García-López JM. (2022). Arthroscopic findings and long-term outcomes in 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries (2008-2018). Vet Surg, 51(3), 409-417. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13784

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 3
Pages: 409-417

Researcher Affiliations

Davis, Joseph G
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA.
García-López, José M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthroscopy / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Menisci, Tibial / surgery
  • Meniscus
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stifle / pathology
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries / surgery
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Tufts University

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This article includes 20 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Roth SP, Liso G, Brehm W, Wagner B, Schnabel CL, Troillet A. Selected cytokine and chemokine concentrations in equine autologous conditioned serum are similar under defined and practically relevant storage conditions. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1588240.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1588240pubmed: 40496923google scholar: lookup
  2. Esselman AM, Johnson SA, Hague BA, Frisbie DD. Severity, distribution and postoperative therapy are not predictors of return to work in western performance horses with stifle chondromalacia. Vet Surg 2025 Jul;54(5):831-839.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.14196pubmed: 40059430google scholar: lookup
  3. Schöpper H, Egerbacher M. Arterial Blood Supply of the Stifle Joint in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 24;14(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14091279pubmed: 38731283google scholar: lookup
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