Diagnostic findings and prognosis following arthroscopic treatment of subtle osteochondral lesions in the shoulder joint of horses: 15 cases (1996-1999).
Abstract: To determine clinical, scintigraphic, radiographic, and arthroscopic findings and results of treatment in horses with lameness attributable to subtle osteochondral lesions of the shoulder joint. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 15 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and results of physical examination, scintigraphy, radiography, arthroscopy, and treatment were recorded. Results: Severity of lameness ranged from grade 1 to 4. Response to shoulder flexion or extension was variable. Twelve horses had a narrow upright foot. Intra-articular anesthesia of the shoulder joint localized the cause of the lameness to the shoulder joint in 9 of 10 horses. Scintigraphic abnormalities were detected in 4 of 6 horses. Radiographic lesions were subtle and included glenoid sclerosis, focal glenoid lysis, small glenoid cysts, and alterations in the humeral head contour. Arthroscopic evaluation confirmed clefts in the glenoid cartilage, glenoid cysts, a humeral head cyst, fibrillation of the humeral head cartilage, cartilage fragmentation, or a nondisplaced fracture of the humeral head. After treatment, 12 horses returned to their previous level of performance, 1 was sound for light riding, 1 remained lame, and 1 was euthanatized because of chronic lameness. Conclusions: Results suggest that a combination of physical examination, scintigraphy, and radiography is necessary to diagnose subtle osteochondral lesions of the shoulder joint in horses. Arthroscopy can be used to confirm the diagnosis and treat cartilage and subchondral bone lesions. Young and middle-aged horses with subtle osteochondral lesions of the shoulder joints have a good prognosis for return to performance following arthroscopic treatment.
Publication Date: 2001-01-02 PubMed ID: 11132896DOI: 10.2460/javma.2000.217.1878Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article investigates the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of horses suffering from subtle osteochondral lesions – a type of joint damage – in their shoulder. It suggests that a combination of physical examination, scintigraphy, radiography, and arthroscopy may be necessary for accurate diagnosis and treatment, and indicates a positive prognosis where horses are able to return to performance levels post treatment.
Methods and Findings
- The study is retrospective in nature and reviews medical records of 15 horses showing lameness attributed to subtle osteochondral lesions in their shoulder joint.
- Information about physical examination, scintigraphy (a diagnostic test in which a two-dimensional picture of a body radiation source is obtained through the use of radioisotopes), radiography, arthroscopy (a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint), and treatment results were recorded.
- Lameness severity in the studied horses varied between grades 1 and 4 and responses to shoulder flexion or extension were inconsistent.
- Within the subject horses, 12 exhibited a narrow upright foot. Out of the 10 horses that underwent intra-articular anesthesia of the shoulder joint, 9 showed the cause of lameness localized to that joint.
- Scintigraphy detected abnormalities in 4 out of 6 horses. Radiographic lesions, however, were subtle and included a range of issues like glenoid sclerosis (hardening or scarring of the shoulder joint), focal glenoid lysis (localized net destruction of bone), small glenoid cysts, humeral head contour alterations, etc.
- Arthroscopic evaluation confirmed various problems such as glenoid cartilage clefts, glenoid cysts, a humeral head cyst, humeral head cartilage fibrillation, cartilage fragmentation, or a non-displaced fracture of the humeral head.
Treatment Results and Conclusions
- The treatment outcomes differed among the studied horses. Post-treatment, 12 horses were able to return to their previous levels of performance while one could only manage light riding. One remained lame while another had to be euthanatized due to chronic lameness.
- Overall, the findings suggest that diagnosing subtle osteochondral shoulder lesions in horses requires a combination of methodologies, including physical examination, scintigraphy, and radiography. Arthroscopy can help confirm diagnoses and treat subchondral bone and cartilage lesions.
- The study concludes on a hopeful note, indicating that young and middle-aged horses with subtle osteochondral lesions in their shoulder joint typically have a good prognosis for returning to their previous performance levels post-arthroscopic treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Doyle PS, White NA.
(2001).
Diagnostic findings and prognosis following arthroscopic treatment of subtle osteochondral lesions in the shoulder joint of horses: 15 cases (1996-1999).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 217(12), 1878-1882.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.1878 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Leesburg 20177, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Joints / diagnostic imaging
- Joints / pathology
- Joints / surgery
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Lameness, Animal / surgery
- Osteochondritis / diagnosis
- Osteochondritis / pathology
- Osteochondritis / veterinary
- Prognosis
- Radiography / veterinary
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Retrospective Studies
- Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Van Cauter R, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Caudron I. Evaluation of the appearance of osteochondrosis lesions by two radiographic examinations in sport horses aged from 12 to 36 months.. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286213.
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