Clinical and radiographic features, treatment and outcome in 15 horses with fracture of the medial aspect of the patella.

The research analyses the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes in 15 horses who experienced a fracture in the medial part of the patella. 14 of these horses were treated through surgical removal of the fracture fragments and out of those, 10 horses with no signs of pre-existing joint disease, returned to full athletic function.

Fracture Circumstances and Presentation

• The study observed 15 horses who suffered a fracture on the medial aspect of their patella. This type of injury was found to be mainly caused by impacts such as being kicked or hitting a fixed fence while jumping.
• In addition to the primary patellar fracture, secondary injuries were also identified in some horses. Eight of them exhibited an additional fragmentation of the base of the patella and two had concurrent fractures at the distal end of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur.

Radiographic View and Detection

• The researchers noted the need for a specific type of radiographic view, referred to as a cranioproximal-craniodistal oblique view, for proper detection and analysis of the medial patellar fracture. This technique was essential for identifying the exact location and configuration of the fracture.

Treatment and Outcome

• The majority of the examined horses underwent a specific surgical procedure which involved the removal of fracture fragments from the medial patella. Fourteen out of the 15 horses underwent this type of treatment.
• The study found signs of success in this approach. Out of the 12 horses that did not show any evidence of pre-existing degenerative joint disease, 10 returned to full athletic function after the treatment.
• This indicates that the surgical removal method can potentially render successful outcomes, specifically in horses without any prior joint disease. However, the study does not discuss much about the prognosis for horses with pre-existing joint conditions.