Evaluation of a Permanent Synthetic Osteochondral Implant in the Equine Medial Femoral Condyle.
Abstract: To evaluate bone ingrowth, integration, and tolerance of a synthetic osteochondral implant in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of normal horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Adult horses (n = 6). Methods: Horses were anesthetized and bilateral femorotibial arthrotomies were performed for placement of 1 implant consisting of polycarbonate urethane with a titanium base in 1 MFC. The contralateral MFC served as a sham-operated control without reaming of cartilage or subchondral bone. Lameness evaluations and radiographs were performed pre-operatively with subsequent monthly lameness exams and radiographs at 6 months. Synovial fluid was collected for analysis from the adjacent femoropatellar joints pre-operatively and at several intervals post-operatively. Horses were euthanatized 6 months post-operatively. Stifles were harvested for gross and histologic evaluations. Results: Two horses were never lame, 2 were mildly lame, and 1 exhibited moderate lameness. Synovial fluid inflammatory parameters of the adjacent femoropatellar joints were not significantly different. No significant changes occurred radiographically over time in either stifle. Histologic assessment of synovium from the medial femorotibial joint revealed no differences in inflammatory changes between implant and sham stifles. Integration and osteoconductivity of the implant were graded as good in 4 and 3 of 5 specimens, respectively. Complications included joint sepsis resulting in euthanasia (1 horse), persistent lameness (1 horse), incisional seromas (4 horses), and incisional dehiscence (2 horses). Conclusions: Results of this pilot study indicate that the implant was compatible with placement in the MFC of normal horses. Implant design allowed bone ingrowth within the titanium base and provision of a synthetic articular surface.
© Copyright 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2016-02-22 PubMed ID: 26909761DOI: 10.1111/vsu.12453Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research is about evaluating how well a synthetic bone and cartilage implant integrates and is tolerated in the medial femoral condyle (MFC), the rounded end of the thigh bone, in horses.
Methods
- Six adult horses were used in the experimental study where each horse was anesthetized and an incision was made in the joint between their thigh and shin bones.
- A synthetic implant was placed in one MFC of each horse. This implant consisted of a polycarbonate urethane (a type of plastic) that was attached to a titanium base.
- The other MFC served as a control and was not given an implant.
- Lameness (difficulty or inability to walk), radiographs (x-rays), and the collection of synovial fluid (fluid in the joint) from the adjacent joint were all evaluated both before the surgery and periodically for 6 months afterwards.
- After the 6-month period, the horses were euthanized and the joints were examined for any changes.
Results
- Of the six horses, two didn’t show any lameness, two showed mild lameness, and one showed moderate lameness.
- There were no significant differences in the inflammatory markers in the joint fluid between the joints with the implant and the control joints without the implant.
- Radiographs taken over time did not demonstrate any significant changes in either of the joints.
- The integration of the implant into the bone and its ability to conduct bone growth were rated as good in most cases.
- Some complications occurred including: infection in the joint leading to euthanasia of one horse, persistent lameness in one horse, fluid-filled swellings in four horses, and wounds in two horses.
Conclusion
- The results of this pilot study suggest that the synthetic implant was able to be successfully placed in the MFC of the horses.
- The design of the implant allowed for bone growth within the titanium base and created a synthetic articular surface.
- Despite some complications, this study provides a preliminary understanding of the use of synthetic osteochondral implants in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Husby KA, Reed SK, Wilson DA, Kuroki K, Middleton JR, Hoepp NC, Charles EM, Cook JL.
(2016).
Evaluation of a Permanent Synthetic Osteochondral Implant in the Equine Medial Femoral Condyle.
Vet Surg, 45(3), 364-373.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.12453 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Memphis, Tennessee.
- Department of Radiology, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California.
- Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory and Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cartilage, Articular / surgery
- Equipment Design
- Female
- Femur / surgery
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal
- Male
- Pilot Projects
- Polycarboxylate Cement
- Prostheses and Implants / veterinary
- Stifle / surgery
- Synovial Fluid / chemistry
- Titanium
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Fugazzola MC, De Ruijter M, Veraa S, Plomp S, van Buul W, Hermsen G, van Weeren R. A hybrid repair strategy for full-thickness cartilage defects: Long-term experimental study in eight horses. J Orthop Res 2025 Jan;43(1):59-69.
- Jeuken RM, Roth AK, Peters MJM, Welting TJM, van Rhijn LW, Koenen J, Peters RJRW, Thies JC, Emans PJ. In vitro and in vivo study on the osseointegration of BCP-coated versus uncoated nondegradable thermoplastic polyurethane focal knee resurfacing implants. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2020 Nov;108(8):3370-3382.
- Olive M, Boyer C, Lesoeur J, Thorin C, Weiss P, Fusellier M, Gauthier O. Preliminary evaluation of an osteochondral autograft, a prosthetic implant, and a biphasic absorbable implant for osteochondral reconstruction in a sheep model. Vet Surg 2020 Apr;49(3):570-581.
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