Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments of the palmar/plantar aspect of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints.

This study discusses the outcomes of arthroscopic surgery on 45 horses that suffered from osteochondral fragments in the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints. Basically, the majority of the horses successfully returned to speed training within six months after surgery.

Demographics of Involved Horses

In total, 45 horses, including 42 Standardbred Trotters and three Finnish horses, underwent arthroscopic surgery. The ages of these horses ranged from one to seven years, with a significant majority (73%) being three years old or younger. These horses exhibited a variety of symptoms, though moderate to severe lameness, particularly at slow speeds, was common.

Pre-operative Observations

• Most horses manifested diverse clinical signs, from moderate to severe lameness at slow speeds to obscure lameness noticeable only at high speeds.
• Synovial effusion or swelling of the fetlock joint was occasioinally observed in the affected horses.
• Of the 45 horses, 44 had Type I osteochondral fragments while just one had Type III fragments.

Surgery Results

• After the arthroscopic surgery, 23 of the 45 horses (51%) returned to their regular speed training routines within three months.
• By six months, 41 of the 45 horses (an overwhelming 91%) had returned to speed training.
• Three horses (6%) remained lame three months after the surgery but one of these recovered by the sixth month.
• The remaining two horses (4%) stayed lame due to a lesion in the joint operated on.

Post-surgery Setbacks

• Although most horses recovered well, two of the 45 (4%) discontinued their training due to reasons unrelated to the operation.
• Interestingly, the single horse with Type III osteochondral fragments, considered to be a more severe condition, was able to return to speed training within three months.

Conclusion

In summary, this research indicates that arthroscopic surgery can be an effective solution for horses suffering from osteochondral fragments in their metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints, with the majority able to return to their usual speed training within six months post-surgery.