Concurrent patellar fracture and lateral collateral ligament avulsion as a result of trauma in three horses.

The research studied three horses suffering from lameness and swelling in the stifle joint after trauma. The study found patellar fracture and lateral collateral ligament avulsion in these horses. Of the three horses, one underwent arthroscopic surgery but remained lame after. The remaining two horses, with less severe damage, healed without surgery and returned to athleticism. The study concluded that the severity of the ligament avulsion may limit recovery and that this should be considered before performing surgery.

Research Methodology and Findings

• The research looked at three cases of horses that exhibited lameness and swellings in the stifle joint, resulting from trauma.
• All three horses showed clinical signs of stifle joint pain and effusion, indicative of the injuries they had suffered. An ultrasound confirmed that each horse had a medial patellar fracture and a lateral collateral ligament avulsion fracture.
• Radiographic analysis included various approaches – standard, flexed lateromedial, cranioproximal-craniodistal oblique (skyline patellar), and laterally stressed caudocranial views. The results were consistent with the ultrasound findings.

Treatment and Result

• In one horse with severe desmitis of the lateral collateral ligament, arthroscopic surgery was attempted to remove the patellar fracture. However, the horse continued to show signs of lameness post-surgery.
• The other two horses, suffering less severe collateral ligament damage, did not undergo surgery for their patellar fractures but were managed conservatively. Despite not having undergone surgery, these horses were still able to return to their athletic duties.
• The researchers interpreted these miss-matched recovery outcomes as an indication that ligament avulsion severity may determine the overall impact of combined injuries like these.

Conclusion and Implications of The Study

• The study concluded that special radiographic views were necessary to diagnose medial patellar fracture and lateral collateral ligament avulsion fracture in these horses. Ultrasonographic findings regarding the collateral ligament may be prognostically significant in analogous situations.
• Furthermore, the severity of the avulsion fracture linked to the ligament appeared to be the limiting factor for horses’ recovery from this type of combined injury. This aspect must be taken into account before deciding surgical correction of patellar fractures.