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Outcome after arthroscopic treatment of lateral femoral trochlear ridge osteochondrosis in sport horses. A retrospective study of 37 horses.
Abstract: To determine the short- and long-term outcome for sport horses after arthroscopic treatment of osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using the medical records of horses intended for use as English sport horses. Outcome was obtained through telephone questionnaire. Results: Thirty-seven horses, mainly Warmbloods, underwent arthroscopic surgery for treatment of lateral femoral trochlear ridge osteochondrosis. Short-term outcome revealed that 27 of 37 horses had no complications. Seven horses had postoperative lameness and effusion which eventually resolved in four horses. Long-term outcome was available for 29 horses, of which 19 were performing to full expectations. Five horses were athletic but at a lower level than expected, and five horses were unable to be used. The depth of the lesion was significantly associated with short-term complications of effusion and lameness. The depth and length of the lesion were not associated with the long-term outcome, but involvement of structures other than the lateral trochlear ridge (patella, medial trochlear ridge) was associated with a worse prognosis. Conclusions: The prognosis for sport horses following stifle arthroscopy for lateral trochlear ridge is similar to that reported in other studies and lesions at other sites within the stifle joint.
Publication Date: 2012-12-13 PubMed ID: 23238225DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-11-12-0182Google 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
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This research article investigates the short- and long-term outcomes for sport horses that have undergone arthroscopic treatment (a type of minimally invasive surgery) for a condition called osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur. The findings suggest that the depth of the lesion had a significant impact on short-term complications, while factors beyond the lesion itself, such as involvement of other structures, influenced the long-term outcome.
Methodology and Participants
- The study uses data from the medical records of horses intended for use as English sport horses.
- The condition studied is osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur – a joint condition affecting the knee.
- All 37 horses involved, mostly of the Warmblood breed, underwent arthroscopic surgery as treatment.
- Outcomes were determined through telephone questionnaire.
Short-term Outcomes
- Short-term results showed that 27 out of the 37 horses experienced no complications after the surgery.
- Seven horses presented with lameness (difficulty moving) and effusion (swelling caused by excess fluid), which ultimately resolved in four of these horses.
- The depth of the osteochondrosis lesion was found to have a significant correlation with these short-term complications.
Long-term Outcomes
- Long-term outcome data was available for 29 of the horses. Out of these, 19 performed to full expectations post-surgery.
- Five of the horses were still able to compete athletically, but at a level lower than expected.
- Five horses were unable to be used athletically at all post-surgery.
- The depth and length of the lesion were not found to have an association with the long-term outcomes.
- However, the involvement of structures beyond the lateral trochlear ridge (such as the patella or medial trochlear ridge) were associated with a worse long-term prognosis for the horses.
Conclusions
- Based on the findings, the outlook for sport horses following stifle arthroscopy for lateral trochlear ridge osteochondrosis is comparable to previously reported studies and lesions located in other areas within the knee joint.
Cite This Article
APA
UpRichard K, Elce YA, Piat P, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.
(2012).
Outcome after arthroscopic treatment of lateral femoral trochlear ridge osteochondrosis in sport horses. A retrospective study of 37 horses.
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol, 26(2), 105-109.
https://doi.org/10.3415/VCOT-11-12-0182 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Femur / surgery
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Interviews as Topic
- Male
- Osteochondrosis / surgery
- Osteochondrosis / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lemirre T, Santschi E, Girard C, Fogarty U, Chapuis L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S. Maturation of the equine medial femoral condyle osteochondral unit. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2020 Mar;2(1):100029.
- Esselman AM, Johnson SA, Frisbie DD, Barrett MF, Zhou T, Contino EK. Substantial variability exists in the interpretation of survey radiographs among equine veterinarians. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):169-182.
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