Osteochondral fragments of the pastern joint at the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone: performance after arthroscopic removal (2000-2015).
Abstract: To describe the presence of fragments in the dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and to report flat racing performance after surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty-nine affected thoroughbred flat racehorses and 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings. Methods: Medical records from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed for thoroughbred horses that underwent arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments in the dorsal aspect of the PIP joint. The horses' 2-year-old year, 3-year-old year, and career athletic performances were compared with their matched siblings. Results: Thirty-nine thoroughbred horses were included, varying in age from 4 months to 4 years, with osteochondral fragments in 42 PIP joints. Hind limbs (92%) were more commonly affected than forelimbs (8%). Fragments were located within the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid (navicular) bone. After surgery, the likelihood of starting a race did not differ between treated horses (27/39 [69%]) and maternal siblings (129/169 [76%], P = .15). Race earnings did not differ between treated horses and their siblings during their 2-year-old year (P = .66), 3-year-old year (P = .43), or career (P = .60). Conclusions: Removing osteochondral fragments from the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone did not impair the ability to race or earning potential for affected thoroughbred racehorses compared with their maternal siblings. Conclusions: Fragments from the dorsal aspect of the PIP joint in racehorses can be removed arthroscopically resulting in a good clinical outcome and future flat racing performance comparable to matched controls.
© 2019 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2019-08-27 PubMed ID: 31456256DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13307Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 study examines the impact of surgical removal of osteochondral fragments in the pastern joint of thoroughbred racehorses, finding that this procedure does not affect the horse’s future racing performance or earnings when compared to their non-operated, healthy siblings.
Objective and Methods of the Study
- The main objective of the research was to analyze the presence of bone fragments in the pastern joint of racing horses, and to report their performance in flat racing following surgical treatment.
- For the study, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of the thoroughbred horses between the year 2000 to 2015, who underwent arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments in the pastern joint.
- A total of 39 affected thoroughbred flat racehorses were included in the study, alongside 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings for comparison.
Findings of the Study
- In the study, fragments were discovered within the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal (navicular) bone. The horses ranged between 4 months to 4 years old, and the hind limbs were more commonly affected than forelimbs.
- After the surgical removal, the likelihood of starting a race was found to be marginally different between the treated horses and their maternal siblings, with 69% of treated horses and 76% of siblings likely to start a race.
- The study found no significant difference in the earnings of treated horses and their siblings during their 2-year-old, 3-year-old, or throughout their careers.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that removing osteochondral fragments from the pastern joint did not affect the ability to race or potential earnings for thoroughbred racehorses.
- The findings indicated that fragments from the pastern joint in racehorses could be arthroscopically removed without hampering their clinical outcome or future flat racing performance compared to match controls.
Cite This Article
APA
Moyer CT, Bramlage LR, Werre SR, Ruggles A, Embertson R, Hopper S.
(2019).
Osteochondral fragments of the pastern joint at the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone: performance after arthroscopic removal (2000-2015).
Vet Surg, 48(7), 1181-1187.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13307 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Leesburg, Virginia.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.
- Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Collateral Ligaments
- Female
- Forelimb / surgery
- Fractures, Bone / surgery
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Hindlimb / surgery
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Joints / surgery
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Sesamoid Bones / pathology
- Sesamoid Bones / surgery
- Treatment Outcome
References
This article includes 26 references
- McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IM. Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse. 4th ed. New York, NY: Mosby Elsevier; 2015.
- Miller SM, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Zarucco LA. Palmaroproximal approach for arthrocentesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in horses. Equine Vet J 1996;28:376-380.
- Radcliffe RM, Cheetham J, Bezuidenhout AJ, Ducharme NG, Nixon AJ. Arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint in four horses. Vet Surg 2008;37:733-740.
- Schneider RK, Ragle CA, Carter BG, Davis WE. Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint of the pelvic limbs in three horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994;205:79-82.
- Santschi EM, Prichard MA, Williams JM, Morehead JP. Prevalence of radiographic abnormalities of the proximal interphalangeal joint of young thoroughbreds and associations with early racing performance. J Equine Vet Sci 2015;35:225-231.
- American Association of Equine Practitioners. Guide for Veterinary Service and Judging of Equestrian Events. 4th ed. Lexington, KY: AAEP; 1991.
- Bidwell LA, Bramlage LR, Rood WA. Equine perioperative fatalities associated with general anaesthesia at a private practice-a retrospective case series. Vet Anaesth Analg 2007;34:23-30.
- Sisson S, Grossman JD, Getty R. Sisson and Grossman's The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 1975.
- Weaver JCB, Stover SM, O'Brien TR. Radiographic anatomy of soft tissue attachments in the equine metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal region. Equine Vet J 1992;24:310-315.
- Denoix J-M. The Equine Distal Limb: Atlas of Clinical Anatomy and Comparative Imaging. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press; 2000.
- Fjordbakk CT, Strand E, Milde AK, Ihler CF, Rorvik AM. Osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint in young horses: 6 cases (1997-2006). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;230:1498-1501.
- McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. Evaluation of intramuscularly administered sodium pentosan polysulfate for treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses. Am J Vet Res 2012;73:628-633.
- Frisbie D, Ghivizzani C, Robbis P, Evans CH, McIlwraith CW. Treatment of experimental equine osteoarthritis by in vivo delivery of the equine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene. Gene Ther 2002;9:12-20.
- Frisbie D, Kawcak C, McIlwraith C, Werpy NM. Evaluation of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan or sodium hyaluronan administered intra-articularly for treatment of horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. Am J Vet Res 2009;70:203-209.
- Frisbie D, Kawcak C, Trotter G, Powers BE, Walton RM, McIlwraith CW. Effects of triamcinolone acetonide on an in vivo equine osteochondral fragment exercise model. Equine Vet J 1997;29:349-359.
- Frisbie D, Kawcak C, Werpy N, Park RD, McIlwraith CW. Clinical, biochemical, and histologic effects of intra-articular administration of autologous conditioned serum in horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:290-296.
- Koenig TJ, Dart AJ, McIlwraith CW. Treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses using an intravenous combination of sodium pentosan polysulfate, N-acetyl glucosamine, and sodium hyaluronan. Vet Surg 2014;43:612-622.
- Boyce MK, Trumble TN, Carlson CS, Groschen DM, Merritt KA, Brown MP. Nonterminal animal model of posttraumatic osteoarthritis induced by acute joint injury. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2013;21:746-755.
- Bramlage LR. Part I: operative orthopedics of the fetlock joint of the horse: traumatic and developmental diseases of the equine fetlock joint. In: Proceedings of the 55th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners; December 5-9, 2009; Las Vegas, NV.
- Kane AJ, McIlwraith CW, Park R, Rantanen NW, Morehead JP, Bramlage LR. Radiographic changes in Thoroughbred yearlings. Part 2: associations with racing performance. Equine Vet J 2003;35:366-374.
- Herthel TD, Rick MC, Judy CE, Cohen ND, Herthel DJ. Retrospective analysis of factors associated with outcome of proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis in 82 horses including Warmblood and Thoroughbred sport horses and Quarter Horses (1992-2014). Equine Vet J 2016;48:557-564.
- Schaer TP, Bramlage LR, Embertson RM, Hance S. Proximal interphalangeal arthrodesis in 22 horses. Equine Vet J 2001;33:360-365.
- MacLellan KNM, Crawford WH, MacDonald DG. Proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis in 34 horses using two parallel 5.5-mm cortical bone screws. Vet Surg 2001;30:454-459.
- Schnabel LV, Bramlage LR, Mohammed HO, Embertson RM, Ruggles AJ, Hopper SA. Racing performance after arthroscopic removal of apical sesamoid fracture fragments in Thoroughbred horses age <2 years: 151 cases (1989-2002). Equine Vet J 2007;39:64-68.
- Santschi E, Slone D, Embertson R, Clayton MK, Markel MD. Colic surgery in 206 juvenile Thoroughbreds: survival and racing results. Equine Vet J Suppl 2000;32:32-36.
- Haywood L, Spike-Pierce DL, Barr B, Mathys D, Mollenkopf D. Gestation length and racing performance in 115 Thoroughbred foals with incomplete tarsal ossification. Equine Vet J 2018;50:29-33.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Faulkner J, Vanderperren K, Duchateau L, O'Sullivan C. Radiographic prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions of the proximal interphalangeal joint of Australian Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings and associations with sales results and race performance. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:988826.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
