Fracture of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia in horses treated by arthroscopic fragment removal (21 horses).
- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
Summary
The research discusses a study on horses who had fractures of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia, a rarely reported injury, and were treated through surgical removal of the fractured fragment. The retrospective study reviews cases from various equine hospitals over a twelve-year period to gain insight into treatment outcomes.
Study Design and Objective
The study aims to advance knowledge about clinical findings, diagnostic procedures, treatment strategies, and outcomes for horses that sustained medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia (MICET) fractures. To achieve this, the researchers conducted a thorough, multicenter, retrospective case series study. This involved gathering and analyzing patient records from various equine hospitals on cases of horses that were diagnosed and surgically treated for MICET fractures.
Sample Size and Timeline
- The study encompassed a total of 21 cases from 9 equine hospitals from 2004 to 2016.
- Even though these originate from different sources, they all had similar traits—horses that had been diagnosed with and treated for MICET fractures.
Clinical Findings
- Horses presented with a history of trauma and sudden onset of lameness in 12 instances.
- All horses underwent arthroscopic removal of the fracture from the medial femorotibial joint.
- The cranial cruciate ligament remained untouched in 6 of the horses, while for 15 other horses, it was damaged to varying degrees.
- The cranial ligament of the medial meniscus was also damaged in 11 horses.
- Further, the medial meniscus in 5 horses and articulatory cartilage in 14 horses were damaged as well.
Results and Conclusion
- Long-term data, ranging from 4 months to 6 years post-surgery, were available for 20 cases.
- Two horses were healing while 13 had returned sound and returned to their initial or anticipated use.
- Of the 4 horses with the most severe changes to the articular soft tissue structures, 2 remained lame, and 2 were euthanized due to persistent lameness.
The study concludes by highlighting the importance of immediate diagnosis and early arthroscopic removal of the fracture. However, it does acknowledge limitations such as the retrospective, multicentre nature of this research and the limited number of horses involved in the study.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK.
- North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
- Donnington Grove Veterinary Group, Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
- Dierenkliniek De Bosdreef, Moerbeke-Waas, Belgium.
- Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
- ONIRIS, Chirurgie et anesthésie, Nantes, France.
- ONIRIS, Chirurgie et anesthésie, Nantes, France.
- Liphook Equine Hospital, Liphook, Hampshire, UK.
- Elders Equine Veterinary Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
- Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Tibia / pathology
- Tibia / surgery
- Tibial Fractures / surgery
- Tibial Fractures / veterinary
References
- Sisson S. Equine syndesmology. In: Sisson and Grossman's The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals, 5th edn., Ed: Grant R., W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia: pp 369–370.
- Mueller PO, Allen D, Watson E, Hay C. Arthroscopic removal of a fragment from an intercondylar eminence fracture of the tibia in a two-year-old horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994 Jun 1;204(11):1793-5.
- Prades M, Grant BD, Turner TA, Nixon AJ, Brown MP. Injuries to the cranial cruciate ligament and associated structures: summary of clinical, radiographic, arthroscopic and pathological findings from 10 horses.. Equine Vet J 1989 Sep;21(5):354-7.
- Walmsley JP. Fracture of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia treated by arthroscopic internal fixation.. Equine Vet J 1997 Mar;29(2):148-50.
- Wisner AB. Surgical removal of an avulsion fracture of the stifle joint. J. Equine Vet. Med. Surg. 1979;3:337–339.
- Sanders-Shamis M, Bukowiecki CF, Biller DS. Cruciate and collateral ligament failure in the equine stifle: seven cases (1975-1985).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1988 Sep 1;193(5):573-6.
- McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IA. Diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy of the femoropatellar and femorotibial joints. In: Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse. Eds: McIlwraith C.W., Nixon A.J. and Wright I.M. Mosby Elsevier, Philadelphia: pp 175–242.
- Walmsley JP. The stifle. In: Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. Eds: Ross M.W. and Dyson S.J., Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri: pp 532–549.
- Grzybowski M, Brehm W, Werren C, Tessier C. Successful treatment of a medial intercondylar eminence fracture in a stallion by arthroscopic removal.. Vet Rec 2008 Jun 7;162(23):756-8.
- Ross MW. Movement. In: Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse, 2nd edn. Eds: Ross M.W. and Dyson S.J., Elsevier Saunders, St Louis: pp 64–80.
- Walker JE, Lewis CW, MacLeay JM, Kawcak CE, Wheeler DL. Assessment of subchondral bone mineral density in equine metacarpophalangeal and stifle joints.. Biomed Sci Instrum 2004;40:272-6.
- Baker GJ, Moustafa MA, Boero MJ, Foreman JH, Wilson DA. Caudal cruciate ligament function and injury in the horse.. Vet Rec 1987 Oct 3;121(14):319-21.
- Walker WT, Kawcak CE, Hill AE. Medial femoral condyle morphometrics and subchondral bone density patterns in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 2013 May;74(5):691-9.
- Halley SE, Bey MJ, Haladik JA, Lavagnino M, Arnoczky SP. Three dimensional, radiosteriometric analysis (RSA) of equine stifle kinematics and articular surface contact: a cadaveric study.. Equine Vet J 2014 May;46(3):364-9.
- Rich FR, Glisson RR. In vitro mechanical properties and failure mode of the equine (pony) cranial cruciate ligament.. Vet Surg 1994 Jul-Aug;23(4):257-65.
- Fowlie JG, Arnoczky SP, Lavagnino M, Stick JA. Stifle extension results in differential tensile forces developing between abaxial and axial components of the cranial meniscotibial ligament of the equine medial meniscus: a mechanistic explanation for meniscal tear patterns.. Equine Vet J 2012 Sep;44(5):554-8.
- Fowlie JG, Arnoczky SP, Stick JA, Pease AP. Meniscal translocation and deformation throughout the range of motion of the equine stifle joint: an in vitro cadaveric study.. Equine Vet J 2011 May;43(3):259-64.
- Walmsley JP. Diagnosis and treatment of ligamentous and meniscal injuries in the equine stifle.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2005 Dec;21(3):651-72, vii.
- Adrian AM, Barrett MF, Werpy NM, Kawcak CE, Chapman PL, Goodrich LR. A comparison of arthroscopy to ultrasonography for identification of pathology of the equine stifle.. Equine Vet J 2017 May;49(3):314-321.
- Barrett MF, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Werpy NM. The arthroscopic and ultrasonographic boundaries of the equine femorotibial joints.. Equine Vet J 2012 Jan;44(1):57-63.
- McKnight AL. Magnetic resonance imaging of the equine stifle: 61 cases. Equine Vet. 2012;1:6–15.
- Santos MP, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD, McKnight AL, Singh K. GROSS AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION OF LOW-FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN THE STIFLE OF ASYMPTOMATIC HORSES.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2015 Jul-Aug;56(4):407-16.
- Valdés-Martínez A. Computed tomographic arthrography of the equine stifle joint.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2012 Dec;28(3):583-98.