Arthroscopic findings in the carpal joints of lame horses without radiographically visible abnormalities: 41 cases (1986-1991).
Abstract: Arthroscopy was performed in 1 carpal joint unilaterally in 27 horses and either in 2 carpal joints unilaterally or 1 carpal joint bilaterally in 7 horses. All horses were lame, but the cause of lameness could not be determined from radiographs. Twenty-seven carpi did not have radiographically visible abnormalities; the remaining 14 had only mild to moderate lucency or sclerosis of the radial facet of the third carpal bone. The primary abnormalities identified during arthroscopy included a crush fracture of the third carpal bone (7 carpi), an incomplete fracture of the third carpal bone in the frontal plane (13 carpi), an incomplete fracture of the third carpal bone in the sagittal plane (1 carpus), a crush fracture of the radial carpal bone (1 carpus), a chip fracture of the intermediate carpal bone (1 carpus), damage to the articular cartilage of the third carpal bone (12 carpi), tearing or fraying of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament (4 carpi), and synovitis (2 carpi). All of the horses in this study were racehorses (29 Standardbreds and 5 Thoroughbreds), and race records were used to evaluate performance before and after surgery. Twenty-four of 34 horses raced preoperatively, and 25 of 34 raced postoperatively. Twenty-three of the 27 (85%) horses in which a single joint was examined raced postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1995-06-01 PubMed ID: 7782248
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the use of arthroscopy in identifying issues in the carpal joints of lame horses that can’t be detected through radiographic imaging, based on 41 cases documented from 1986 to 1991.
Objective of the Research
- The main objective of the research was to determine the efficacy of arthroscopy in identifying the cause of lameness in horses when radiographic imaging failed to do so. The study focussed on injuries or abnormalities in the carpal joints of horses.
Research Methodology
- Arthroscopy was carried out in either one or two carpal joints of 34 horses. These horses were lame, yet radiographs couldn’t determine their lameness cause.
- The researchers compared the arthroscopy results with radiographic findings, providing an insight into the potential shortcomings of radiographic imaging in identifying all potential reasons for equine lameness.
Results of the Study
- The arthroscopic findings varied greatly, with conditions ranging from crush fractures, incomplete fractures, damage to the articular cartilage, tears or fraying of the ligament, to synovitis.
- Out of 34 horses that underwent arthroscopy, 27 had no visible abnormalities on their radiographs. Meanwhile, the remaining 14 showed only minor to moderate radium lucency or sclerosis.
Statistical Outcome of the Research: Preoperative versus Postoperative Races
- All the subjects in the study were racehorses – 29 Standardbreds and five Thoroughbreds. The researchers used their race records to compare their performance before and after the surgery.
- Out of 34 horses, 24 had participated in races before surgery, and 25 joined races post-surgery. Particularly in the group where a single joint was examined, 23 out of 27 horses (85%) rejoined the races after surgery.
Conclusion
- The findings suggest that arthroscopy can detect injuries or abnormalities not visible in radiographs and possibly help in improving the performance of racehorses after necessary surgical intervention.
Cite This Article
APA
Moore RM, Schneider RK.
(1995).
Arthroscopic findings in the carpal joints of lame horses without radiographically visible abnormalities: 41 cases (1986-1991).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 206(11), 1741-1746.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1089, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Forelimb
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Male
- Radiography
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Roneus B, Andersson AM, Ekman S. Racing performance in standardbred trotters with chronic synovitis after partial arthroscopic synovectomy in the metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal and intercarpal (midcarpal) joints. Acta Vet Scand 1997;38(1):87-95.
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