Preliminary investigation of the treatment of equine medial femoral condylar subchondral cystic lesions with a transcondylar screw.

This study examines if the application of a transcondylar screw can aid in healing subchondral cystic lesions in the medial femoral condyle of horses and effectively reduce lameness.

Study Objectives and Methodology

• The research primarily sought to determine if lameness-causing subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of horses would show radiographic signs of healing and reduced lameness after inserting a transcondylar screw.
• The study employed a retrospective case series methodology and involved a sample of 20 horses showing lameness associated with a MFC SCL.
• To address the lesions, a 4.5 mm screw was placed across the MFC SCL in lag fashion in affected horses. Follow-up radiography and lameness checks were conducted at intervals of 30-60 days for a period of 120 days post-surgery, during which the radiographic area of the SCL and the extent of lameness were graded.
• The treatment was considered successful if the lameness was entirely eliminated and the radiographic area of the SCL, on a caudocranial projection, reduced by at least 50% within 120 days.

Results and Findings

• The study treated 26 limbs in total. Among the sample, nine horses (amounting to 11 limbs) received supplementary treatment involving autologous biologics introduced into the SCL.
• The findings indicate that lameness reduced by 1-2 grades within 60 days post-surgery in 18 horses, and was entirely eliminated in 15 horses after 120 days. It was by this point that the SCL area had lessened by a minimum of 50% and the horses could resume work, exhibiting no lameness.
• The use of biologic therapies proved to have no significant impact on the success of the treatment.
• The treatment was found to be less effective in horses that were older than three years.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that the application of a MFC transcondylar screw contributes to a meaningful reduction in the area of a MFC SCL visible on craniocaudal radiographs and bears the capacity to completely eliminate lameness in approximately 75% of horses within 120 days.
• Given its simplicity and the fact that it does not necessitate special equipment, this technique offers a viable treatment option for equine SCL causing lameness.