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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2022; 63(1); 74-80;

Fragment size is associated with post-operative complications following elective arthroscopy of the tibiotarsal joint of horses.

Abstract: The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the occurrence of joint-related complications after elective arthroscopy of the tibiotarsal joint (TTJ) in 329 horses, and the association with specific clinical parameters. Data were collected from medical records of horses undergoing elective tibiotarsal joint arthroscopy for fragment removal. Exact conditional univariate regression was used to determine significant risk factors for joint-related post-operative complications. Of 485 joints, 2 (0.4%) developed surgical site infection, 4 (0.8%) developed septic arthritis, 1 (0.2%) developed synovial fistula. There was a significantly increased odds of having septic arthritis as height and length of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT) lesion increased. The median height and length of the DIRT fragments in affected cases was 13.5 mm and 18.0 mm, respectively. For each unit (1 mm) increase in height, there was a 42% increase in the risk of septic arthritis occurrence ( = 0.0042), and a 15% increase for each unit increase in length ( = 0.035). Horses were significantly less likely to develop septic arthritis when suture smaller than USP 0 was used. Horses with larger osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the DIRT region have an increased risk of developing septic arthritis following fragment removal. L’objectif de cette étude rétrospective était de déterminer la fréquence de complications articulaires après arthroscopie élective de l’articulation tibiotarsienne (TTJ) chez 329 chevaux, et l’association avec des paramètres cliniques spécifiques. Les données ont été recueillies à partir des dossiers médicaux de chevaux subissant une arthroscopie élective de l’articulation tibiotarsienne pour l’élimination de fragments. Une régression univariée conditionnelle exacte a été utilisée pour déterminer les facteurs de risque significatifs de complications postopératoires liées aux articulations.Sur 485 articulations, deux (0,4 %) ont développé une infection du site opératoire, quatre (0,8 %) une arthrite septique, et une (0,2 %) une fistule synoviale. Il y avait une probabilité significativement accrue d’avoir une arthrite septique à mesure que la hauteur et la longueur de la lésion de la crête intermédiaire distale du tibia (DIRT) augmentaient. La hauteur et la longueur médianes des fragments DIRT dans les cas affectés étaient respectivement de 13,5 mm et de 18,0 mm. Pour chaque unité (1 mm) d’augmentation de hauteur, il y avait une augmentation de 42 % du risque de survenue d’arthrite septique ( = 0,0042); et une augmentation de 15 % pour chaque augmentation unitaire de longueur ( = 0,035). Les chevaux étaient significativement moins susceptibles de développer une arthrite septique lorsqu’une suture plus petite que USP 0 était utilisée.Les chevaux présentant des lésions d’ostéochondrite disséquante plus importantes de la région DIRT ont un risque accru de développer une arthrite septique après le retrait des fragments.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
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Publication Date: 2022-01-04 PubMed ID: 34975171PubMed Central: PMC8682936
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates how the fragment size observed in horses undergoing elective arthroscopy of the tibiotarsal joint relates to the occurrence of post-operative complications. It was found that a larger fragment size increases the risk of developing septic arthritis in horses after surgery.

Background of the Study

  • The study was conducted retrospectively to examine if there are joint-related complications post-arthroscopy in horses, and how these relate to certain clinical factors.
  • Information for the study was collected from the medical records of horses that had undergone elective tibiotarsal joint arthroscopy for removing fragments.
  • For the analysis, the researchers used an exact conditional univariate regression.

Findings of the Study

  • Out of 485 joints evaluated, only a minor percentage developed complications: 2 (0.4%) had surgical site infection, 4 (0.8%) got septic arthritis, and 1 (0.2%) resulted in a synovial fistula.
  • An important finding of the study was that as the height and length of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT) lesion increased, the chances of having septic arthritis also went up.
  • Specifically, the risk of septic arthritis occurrence increased by 42% for each unit (1 mm) increase in height, and there was a 15% increase in risk for each unit increase in length.
  • However, if sutures smaller than USP 0 were used, horses were significantly less likely to develop septic arthritis.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that larger osteochondritis dissecans lesions in the DIRT region in horses lead to a higher risk of septic arthritis after fragment removal.
  • This conclusion can be particularly useful for veterinarians and horse owners to understand the potential risks involved in undergoing such procedures and choosing the best course of action.

Cite This Article

APA
Merchán A, Koenig J, Côté N, Cribb N, Monteith G. (2022). Fragment size is associated with post-operative complications following elective arthroscopy of the tibiotarsal joint of horses. Can Vet J, 63(1), 74-80.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 1
Pages: 74-80

Researcher Affiliations

Merchán, Alejandro
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.
Koenig, Judith
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.
Côté, Nathalie
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.
Cribb, Nicola
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.
Monteith, Gabrielle
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthroscopy / adverse effects
  • Arthroscopy / veterinary
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Joints
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Bertuglia A, Pallante M, Pagliara E, Valle D, Bergamini L, Bollo E, Bullone M, Riccio B. Determinants of joint effusion in tarsocrural osteochondrosis of yearling Standardbred horses. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1389798.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1389798pubmed: 39113724google scholar: lookup
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