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Autologous osteochondral grafting (mosaic arthroplasty) for treatment of subchondral cystic lesions in the equine stifle and fetlock joints.
Abstract: To describe treatment of equine subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) by reconstruction of the articular surface with osteochondral grafts. Methods: Case series of horses with SBCs unresponsive to conservative therapy. Methods: Eleven horses (1-12 years). Methods: SBCs were identified in 4 locations: medial femoral condyle (5 horses), lateral femoral condyle (1), distal epiphysis of the metacarpus (4), or metatarsus (1). Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was performed, taking grafts from the abaxial border of the medial femoral trochlea of the unaffected limb. Graft implantation was achieved through a small arthrotomy or by arthroscopy depending on SBC location. Results: All horses improved postoperatively; 10 horses had successful outcomes with radiographic evidence of successful graft incorporation and 7 returned to a previous or higher activity level. On follow-up arthroscopy (5 horses) there was successful reconstitution of a functional gliding surface. One horse had delayed incorporation of a graft because of a technical error but became sound. One horse had recurrence after 4 years of work and soundness. One stallion was used for breeding and light riding because of medial meniscal injuries on the same limb. Conclusions: Implantation of osteochondral grafts should be considered for SBC when conservative management has not improved lameness and there is a risk of further joint injury and degeneration. Conclusions: Mosaic arthroplasty should be considered for treatment of subchondral bone cysts of the femoral condyle and distal articular surface of the metacarpus/tarsus in horses that are refractory to non-surgical management.
Publication Date: 2005-01-22 PubMed ID: 15659013DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2004.04096.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 study investigates the use of osteochondral grafting (also known as mosaic arthroplasty) as a treatment for horses with subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) that don’t respond to conservative treatments. The results demonstrate that all horses improved after the procedure, with most showing successful outcomes and being able to return to their previous or higher activity levels.
Objective of the Study
- The goal of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of osteochondral autograft transplantation (also known as mosaic arthroplasty) as a treatment method for horses suffering from subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) that have not responded to conservative therapy.
Research Method
- The research is a case series involving eleven horses, aged between 1 to 12 years, with identified SBCs at various body locations.
- The researchers took grafts from the healthy limbs of the affected horses and then performed mosaic arthroplasty.
- Graft implantation was accomplished either through a small arthrotomy or by arthroscopy, depending on the location of the SBC.
Findings of the Study
- All horses showed improvement after the surgical procedure. In ten horses, radiographs confirmed successful graft integration. Seven out of eleven horses were able to return to their prior or higher activity levels, indicating successful treatment.
- Despite one horse having delayed graft incorporation due to a technical error during surgery, it eventually became sound.
- One horse showed recurrence after four years of work and soundness, suggesting that while the procedure can be successful, there may be cases of relapse.
- One stallion was used for breeding and light riding due to injuries to the medial meniscus on the same limb.
Conclusions
- Osteochondral grafting should be considered in horses afflicted with SBCs when conservative treatments fail to resolve the issue and there is a risk of further injury and degeneration of the joint.
- The research also proposes that mosaic arthroplasty can be a feasible treatment for SBCs of the femoral condyle and the distal articular surface of the metacarpus/tarsus in horses that do not respond to non-surgical management.
Cite This Article
APA
Bodo G, Hangody L, Modis L, Hurtig M.
(2005).
Autologous osteochondral grafting (mosaic arthroplasty) for treatment of subchondral cystic lesions in the equine stifle and fetlock joints.
Vet Surg, 33(6), 588-596.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2004.04096.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroplasty / veterinary
- Bone Cysts / surgery
- Bone Cysts / veterinary
- Bone Transplantation / veterinary
- Cartilage, Articular / transplantation
- Femur / surgery
- Graft Survival
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Metacarpus / surgery
- Metatarsus / surgery
- Radiography
- Stifle / surgery
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Pál Z, Bodó G. Osteochondral allograft transplantation for treating medial femoral condyle subchondral bone cyst in a 14-year-old standardbred horse: a case report. J Vet Sci 2023 May;24(3):e31.
- Ząbek T, Witarski W, Szmatoła T, Sawicki S, Mrozowicz J, Samiec M. Trichostatin A-Mediated Epigenetic Modulation Predominantly Triggers Transcriptomic Alterations in the Ex Vivo Expanded Equine Chondrocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Oct 29;23(21).
- Voga M, Majdic G. Articular Cartilage Regeneration in Veterinary Medicine. Adv Exp Med Biol 2022;1401:23-55.
- Murata D, Ishikawa S, Sunaga T, Saito Y, Sogawa T, Nakayama K, Hobo S, Hatazoe T. Osteochondral regeneration of the femoral medial condyle by using a scaffold-free 3D construct of synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells in horses. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 22;18(1):53.
- Kol'vek F, Krešáková L, Vdoviaková K, Medvecký Ľ, Žert Z. Modified Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis in a Yearling Filly with an Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in the Proximal Phalanx. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 28;11(4).
- Bowland P, Cowie RM, Ingham E, Fisher J, Jennings LM. Biomechanical assessment of the stability of osteochondral grafts implanted in porcine and bovine femoral condyles. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2020 Feb;234(2):163-170.
- Warnock WR, Marsh CA, Hand DR. Outcome of arthroscopic debridement of cartilage injury in the equine distal interphalangeal joint. Can Vet J 2019 Jul;60(7):731-736.
- Lepage SIM, Robson N, Gilmore H, Davis O, Hooper A, St John S, Kamesan V, Gelis P, Carvajal D, Hurtig M, Koch TG. Beyond Cartilage Repair: The Role of the Osteochondral Unit in Joint Health and Disease. Tissue Eng Part B Rev 2019 Apr;25(2):114-125.
- Żylińska B, Silmanowicz P, Sobczyńska-Rak A, Jarosz Ł, Szponder T. Treatment of Articular Cartilage Defects: Focus on Tissue Engineering. In Vivo 2018 Nov-Dec;32(6):1289-1300.
- Olstad K, Hendrickson EH, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. Local Morphological Response of the Distal Femoral Articular-Epiphyseal Cartilage Complex of Young Foals to Surgical Stab Incision and Potential Relevance to Cartilage Injury and Repair in Children. Cartilage 2013 Jul;4(3):239-48.
- Hurtig MB, Buschmann MD, Fortier LA, Hoemann CD, Hunziker EB, Jurvelin JS, Mainil-Varlet P, McIlwraith CW, Sah RL, Whiteside RA. Preclinical Studies for Cartilage Repair: Recommendations from the International Cartilage Repair Society. Cartilage 2011 Apr;2(2):137-52.
- Mara CS, Sartori AR, Duarte AS, Andrade AL, Pedro MA, Coimbra IB. Periosteum as a source of mesenchymal stem cells: the effects of TGF-β3 on chondrogenesis. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2011;66(3):487-92.
- Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH. Current and future regenerative medicine - principles, concepts, and therapeutic use of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering in equine medicine. Can Vet J 2009 Feb;50(2):155-65.
- Pál Z, Tuska P, Vásárhelyi G, Hangody L, Hurtig M, Kaposi AD, Bodó G. Mosaic arthroplasty in equine stifle and fetlock joints: A retrospective study of 31 cases between 1998 and 2023. Vet Surg 2025 Aug;54(6):1196-1207.
- Pérez-Nogués M, Manso-Díaz G, Spirito M, López-Sanromán J. Treatment Comparison for Medial Femoral Condyle Subchondral Cystic Lesions and Prognosis in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorse Prospects. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 6;14(7).
- Pérez-Nogués M, López-Sanromán J, Spirito M, Manso-Díaz G. Treatments and Prognosis for Subchondral Cystic Lesions in the Distal Extremities in Thoroughbred Prospect Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 7;13(18).
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