Racing Performance and Sale Result in 145 Thoroughbreds after Arthroscopic Removal of Osteochondral Fragments from the Lateral Femoral Trochlear Ridge as a Yearling (2012-2015).

This research study investigates the relationship between knee-joint lesion size, racing performance, and sale amount for thoroughbred horses who have undergone keyhole surgery to treat a common joint disease. The study found that the lesion size doesn’t impact racing performance or sale outcome, and horses that had the operation and were sold performed similarly to those that weren’t operated on.

Introduction

The research paper begins by emphasizing the commonality of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in the equine knee-joint, or lateral trochular ridge (LTR). The researchers aim to evaluate the relationship between the size of the disease lesion, the race performance, and the sale result of thoroughbred horses that had these lesions removed via an arthroscopic procedure during their yearling stage.

Methodology

• The study is retrospective and reviews the medical records of 145 thoroughbred horses from a single equine hospital that underwent LTR OCD surgery.
• The size of lesions before surgery was gauged using radiographs.
• The horses were divided into two groups. Group S includes horses that were sold at public auctions post-surgery, while Group NS includes those that were not sold.
• Each horse from Group S was matched with two unoperated horses from the same sale, designated as Group C.
• The researchers then analyzed the influence of lesion size on racing performance and sale results.

Results

• The results suggest that the size of the lesion did not impact racing performance and there was no significant difference between the performance of horses in Groups S and NS.
• The horses from group S significantly outperformed those from Group NS.
• Between Groups S and C, there was no noticeable difference in racing performance and sales output.

Conclusion

Based on the research, horses that have undergone arthroscopic surgery for LTR OCD during their yearling stage and were part of public auctions performed in races comparably to thoroughbred horses that showed similar potential but did not have surgery. Importantly, the researchers confirm that in their study, the surgical procedure did not have a meaningful impact on the sales results of the horses.