Comparison of intra-articular drilling and diode laser treatment for arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints in normal horses.
Abstract: Anecdotal reports suggest that laser-facilitated arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints improves the prognosis compared with intra-articular drilling but no objective comparisons have been performed. Objective: To evaluate intra-articular drilling and laser-facilitated arthrodesis using in situ and in vivo techniques. Methods: Fourteen cadaver limbs were evaluated in situ for chondrocyte viability after both surgical techniques. In vivo, one randomly selected limb was subjected to laser-facilitated arthrodesis and the other underwent intra-articular drilling in 6 normal horses. Clinical examinations were performed at 1, 3 and 5 months. Two horses were subjected to euthanasia at 1, 3 and 5 months. Results: Significantly more chondrocyte death was observed with laser-facilitated arthrodesis compared to drilling, but the overall degree suggested only a focal effect. In vivo, both groups demonstrated minimal post operative morbidity. There was more evidence of arthrodesis seen at all time points with intra-articular drilling. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that changes associated with ultimate arthrodesis occur earlier after intra-articular drilling of the distal tarsal joints than laser-facilitated arthrodesis, although clinically affected horses may respond differently. Conclusions: Intra-articular drilling may provide earlier arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints, but not necessarily a better long-term result.
Publication Date: 2005-01-18 PubMed ID: 15651740DOI: 10.2746/0425164054406829Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study compares two surgical techniques for arthrodesis (joint fusion) in horse’s distal tarsal (lower ankle) joints: traditional drilling and laser treatment. The study concluded that the drilling method achieved earlier arthrodesis, but both methods had minimal post-operative morbidity and didn’t necessarily differ in long-term results.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to provide an objective comparison of two surgical techniques for arthrodesis – intra-articular drilling and laser-facilitated fusion. While laser treatment is believed to improve prognosis, there has been no substantial evidence to back up this belief.
Research Methods
- To evaluate the two techniques, both in vivo and in situ methods were used, involving 14 cadaver limbs and 6 live horses.
- In the in situ evaluation, chondrocyte (cartilage cells) viability was analyzed after application of both surgical techniques on cadaver limbs.
- In the in vivo experimentation, one randomly chosen limb from each horse underwent laser-based arthrodesis, and the other leg was subjected to drilling.
- Post-surgical examinations were performed at 1, 3, and 5 months. Two horses were euthanized at each of these time points.
Results of the Study
- The results showed significantly more chondrocyte death in the limbs subjected to the laser treatment than the traditional drilling procedure, suggesting a higher focal effect.
- Both groups displayed minimal post-operative discomfort, indicating that both techniques had an acceptable degree of morbidity.
- Interestingly, early evidence of arthrodesis was more observable in the group that underwent drilling across all time evaluations.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that traditional drilling leads to faster or earlier occurrence of arthrodesis compared to laser treatment. However, these changes were found in a study involving normal horses, and results might differ in clinically affected specimens.
- While drilling was found to be quicker in achieving arthrodesis, the study suggests that it doesn’t necessarily mean a better long-term outcome. Both techniques had consistent post-operative outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Scruton C, Baxter GM, Cross MW, Frisbie DD.
(2005).
Comparison of intra-articular drilling and diode laser treatment for arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints in normal horses.
Equine Vet J, 37(1), 81-86.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054406829 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 West Drake, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrodesis / instrumentation
- Arthrodesis / methods
- Arthrodesis / veterinary
- Cadaver
- Chondrocytes
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Lameness, Animal / surgery
- Laser Therapy / veterinary
- Microscopy, Confocal / veterinary
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / surgery
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Tarsal Joints / pathology
- Tarsal Joints / surgery
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Shearer TR, Kinsley MA, Pease AP, Patterson JS. Development of a minimally invasive approach to equine cervical articular facet joints for placement of an ND:YAG LASER. Can Vet J 2017 Nov;58(11):1181-1186.
- Seo JP, Yamaga T, Tsuzuki N, Yamada K, Haneda S, Furuoka H, Tabata Y, Sasaki N. Minimally invasive proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis using a locking compression plate and tissue engineering in horses: a pilot study. Can Vet J 2014 Nov;55(11):1050-6.
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