Osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in horses.

The research investigates a specific type of bone disorder in horses. It reveals that osteochondral fragmentation of the patella, more common in certain breeds, manifests as hindlimb lameness and stiffness and is often associated with a previous specific surgical procedure. The study concludes that most affected horses regained their normal function after arthroscopic surgery.

Brief Overview of the Study

• The research focusses on a particular condition faced by horses which involves the osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella.
• It involves 15 horses of different breeds such as Quarterhorses, Thoroughbreds, American Saddlebreds, an American Paint and a Warmblood-Thoroughbred cross.
• The problem was identified in unilateral form in six horses and in bilateral form in nine.
• Out of these, 12 had earlier undergone a medial patellar desmotomy.

Symptoms and Radiographic Changes

• The disease manifests in the form of hindlimb lameness and stiffness, with severity ranging from mild to extreme.
• In 12 cases that had undergone a previous medial patellar desmotomy, fibrous thickening was found in the stifle area.
• Synovial effusion was also observed in two of the three cases in which a previous medial patellar desmotomy was not performed.
• Radiographic alterations encompassed bony fragmentation, spurring (either with or without a joined subchondral defect), subchondral roughening, and subchondral lysis of the distal aspect of the patella.

Treatment and Recovery

• All the horses under study were treated using arthroscopic surgery.
• The arthroscopy revealed variances in the lesions, from flaking, fissuring, undermining, or fragmentation of the articular cartilage to fragmentation or lysis of the bone at the distal aspect of the patella.
• The subchondral bone was affected in all cases that had undergone a previous medial patellar desmotomy.
• Out of the 12 that underwent desmotomy, eight resumed their normal usage, one was sold in training without issues, one is in early training with no problems, one didn’t show signs of improvement, and one is in recuperation.
• Of the three horses that did not previously undergo patellar desmotomy, two executed their intended use effectively, but one was not satisfactory.