Consideration of anatomic and radiographic features of the caudal pouches of the femorotibial joints of horses for the purpose of arthroscopy.

This research involved examining the anatomy of the back region of a horse’s knee joints, in order to develop better arthroscopic surgery approaches. Arthroscopy is a surgical technique where a small camera is inserted into a joint to diagnose and treat conditions. Traditional techniques didn’t allow for complete access to joint injuries on the caudal (back) side of the knee joint, which led to the study.

Methodology

• The researchers examined the backside of the knee joint on 52 horse cadaver limbs, using a variety of techniques including gross dissection (autopsy or in-depth examination), x-ray computed tomography (x-ray images), fluoroscopy (real-time x-rays) and arthroscopy (inspection with a small camera).
• These methods helped in studying the structure and size of the femorotibial joint sacs. These joint sacs are key anatomical features of the horse’s knee joint and understanding their properties can be crucial in precise surgical techniques.
• The researchers also explored the stifles (another term for knee joints) of two anesthetized horses, with the use of arthroscopy.
• After injecting fluid into the joint and filling it, fluoroscopy was used to confirm the placement of the needle and the filling patterns of each femorotibial joint. The volume of injected fluid was recorded for both the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) joint sacs.

Results

• During the procedure, the researchers identified several vital structures that could accidentally be damaged during arthroscopy surgery, including the peroneal nerve, popliteal artery and vein, and the lateral femoral condyle.
• Furthermore, the tendon of the popliteus muscle became a significant challenge during the arthroscopic exploration because it is attached to the joint capsule that surrounds the back pouch of the lateral femorotibial joint. Its positioning made the exploration significantly difficult.
• The amount of fluid that was successfully injected into the medial and lateral femorotibial joint sacs was also recorded.

Conclusion

• The study furthered understanding of the anatomy of the backside of a horse’s knee joint. It identified the significant challenges and potential risks for arthroscopy surgeries by highlighting certain vital structures which could get damaged.
• This research can contribute to advancements in arthroscopic surgical techniques in veterinary medicine, particularly pertaining to equine knee joint surgeries.