FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Severity, distribution and postoperative therapy are not pre...
Veterinary surgery : VS2025; 54(5); 831-839; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14196

Severity, distribution and postoperative therapy are not predictors of return to work in western performance horses with stifle chondromalacia.

Abstract: (1) To evaluate the ability of western performance horses diagnosed with chondromalacia to return to performance; Specifically, the relationship between the grade of chondromalacia and the horses' ability to resume work; (2) To determine the impact of postoperative therapy on clinical outcomes. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 34). Methods: Records of western performance horses with lameness localized to the stifle that underwent subsequent arthroscopy with chondromalacia as the most significant diagnosis were reviewed. Chondromalacia was surgeon-graded as slight, mild, moderate, or marked. Three evaluated categories of postoperative intra-articular therapy included: (1) bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, (2) equine amniotic allograft product or (3) none. Outcome was defined as returning to previous level of work on a numeric scale (1-10). Results: Chondromalacia and its degree of severity and focal vs. diffuse distribution identified arthroscopically did not show a significant association (p = .54, .40, respectively) or correlation (p = .18; R-value: 0.27) with the ability to return to athletic performance. The type of postoperative intra-articular therapy did not have any association with the horse returning to athletic work (p = .53). Conclusions: A statistically significant association between severity, distribution or subsequent postoperative therapy for stifle chondromalacia and the ability to return to work was not observed. Conclusions: Compared to previously published reports, this study demonstrated a 74% more favorable prognosis for returning to some level of athletic work despite only 44% of horses returning to their previous level of performance.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2025-03-09 PubMed ID: 40059430PubMed Central: PMC12282042DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14196Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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.

The research article investigates if the severity and distribution of stifle chondromalacia, a condition where cartilage softens or degenerates, and the type of post-surgical treatment, are linked to a horse’s ability to return to athletic performance. They found no significant correlation, but observed a 74% success rate of horses returning to some level of work, whereas only 44% could resume their previous performance level.

Objective and Methodology

  • The primary objective of this study was to understand the link between the grade of chondromalacia (softening or degeneration of the cartilage in the stifle joint) in western performance horses and their ability to return to work or performance. Additionally, the impact of different types of postoperative therapy on clinical outcomes was also assessed.
  • The study used a retrospective case series method and included a sample size of 34 performance horses diagnosed with chondromalacia.
  • The research analysed medical records of horses diagnosed with lameness in the stifle that underwent arthroscopy, with chondromalacia as the most prominent diagnosis.
  • The severity of chondromalacia was classified by the surgeon into four categories: slight, mild, moderate, or marked. In addition, three types of postoperative intra-articular therapy were compared: (1) bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, (2) equine amniotic allograft product, or (3) no therapy.

Results

  • The results demonstrated that neither the severity nor distribution of chondromalacia significantly correlated with the horse’s ability to return to their athletic performance.
  • The type of postoperative therapy also did not impact the horse’s ability to return to work.
  • These findings indicated that the gravity, distribution or subsequent postoperative therapy for stifle chondromalacia was not significantly associated with the ability to return to work.

Conclusions

  • Despite the lack of significant correlation between chondromalacia severity, distribution, or postoperative therapy and return to work, the study noted a higher-than-expected prognosis for the return to some level of athletic performance.
  • The results showed a 74% favorable prognosis for horses returning to some level of athletic work, with only 44% being able to return to their prior level of performance. This finding contrasts with previously published reports, indicating a potential overestimation of the negative impact of chondromalacia on a horse’s work capacity.

Cite This Article

APA
Esselman AM, Johnson SA, Hague BA, Frisbie DD. (2025). Severity, distribution and postoperative therapy are not predictors of return to work in western performance horses with stifle chondromalacia. Vet Surg, 54(5), 831-839. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14196

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 5
Pages: 831-839

Researcher Affiliations

Esselman, Angie M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Johnson, Sherry A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
  • Equine Sports Medicine, Pilot Point, Texas, USA.
Hague, Brent A
  • Rocking E Stables, Equine Rehabilitation Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
Frisbie, David D
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stifle / pathology
  • Stifle / surgery
  • Male
  • Female
  • Arthroscopy / veterinary
  • Lameness, Animal / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Return to Work

Conflict of Interest Statement

David Frisbie is a principle in Advanced Regenerative Therapies, Fort Collins, Colorado. Brent Hague is a veterinary medical director for RenoVō, Argyle, Texas.

References

This article includes 36 references
  1. McCoy AM, Smith RL, Herrera S, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Goodrich LR. Long‐term outcome after stifle arthroscopy in 82 western performance horses (2003–2010).. Vet Surg 2019;48(6):956‐965.
    pubmed: 31199028
  2. Johnson SA, Donnell JR, Donnell AD, Frisbie DD. Retrospective analysis of lameness localization in western performance horses: a ten‐year review.. Equine Vet J 2021;53(6):1150‐1158.
    pubmed: 33617019
  3. Nelson BB, Kawcak CE, Goodrich LR, Werpy NM, Valdés‐Martínez A, McIlwraith CW. Comparison between computed tomographic arthrography, radiography, ultrasonography, and arthroscopy for the diagnosis of femorotibial joint disease in western performance horses.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016;57(4):387‐402.
    pubmed: 27170533
  4. Scott GS, Crawford WH, Colahan PT. Arthroscopic findings in horses with subtle radiographic evidence of osteochondral lesions of the medial femoral condyle: 15 cases (1995‐2002).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;224(11):1821‐1826.
    pubmed: 15198269
  5. Schneider RK, Jenson P, Moore RM. Evaluation of cartilage lesions of the medial femoral condyle as a cause of lameness in horses: 11 cases (1988‐1994).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;210:1649‐1652.
    pubmed: 9170097
  6. Howard RD, McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW. Arthroscopic surgery for subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle in horses: 41 cases (1988‐1991).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1995;206:842‐850.
    pubmed: 7759338
  7. Steinheimer DN, McIlwraith CW, Park RD. Comparison of radiographic subchondral bone changes with arthroscopic findings in the equine femoropatellar and femorotibial joints: a retrospective study of 72 joints (50 horses).. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1995;36:478‐484.
  8. Ferris DJ, Frisbie DD, Kisiday JD. Clinical outcome after intra‐articular administration of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in 33 horses with stifle injury.. Vet Surg 2014;43(3):255‐265.
    pubmed: 24433318
  9. Cohen JM, Richardson DW, McKnight AL, Ross MW, Boston RC. Long‐term outcome in 44 horses with stifle lameness after arthroscopic exploration and debridement.. Vet Surg 2009;38:543‐555.
    pubmed: 19538678
  10. Croxford AK, Parker RA, Burford JH. Chondromalacia of the cranial medial femoral condyle; its occurrence and association with clinical outcome in a population of adult horses with stifle lameness.. Equine Vet J 2020;52(3):379‐383.
    pubmed: 31710379
  11. McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IM. Diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy of the femoropatellar and femorotibial joints.. Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse 4th ed. Mosby; 2015:175‐242.
  12. Outerbridge RE. The etiology of chondromalacia patellae.. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1961;389:5‐8.
    pubmed: 11501822
  13. Łojszczyk‐Szczepaniak A, Silmanowicz P, Komsta R. Determination of reference values and frequency of occurrence of patella alta in German shepherd dogs: a retrospective study.. Acta Vet Scand 2017;59(36):1‐6.
    pmc: PMC5452377pubmed: 28569198
  14. Walmsley JP, Phillips TJ, Townsend HGG. Meniscal tears in horses: an evaluation of clinical signs and arthroscopic treatment of 80 cases.. Equine Vet J 2003;35(4):402‐406.
    pubmed: 12880009
  15. Davis JG, García‐López JM. Arthroscopic findings and long‐term outcomes in 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries (2008‐2018).. Vet Surg 2022;51(3):409‐417.
    pubmed: 35178749
  16. Izuta Y, Ochi M, Adachi N, Deie M, Yamasaki T, Shinomiya R. Meniscal repair using bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells: experimental study using green fluorescent protein transgenic rats.. Knee 2005;12:217‐223.
    pubmed: 15911296
  17. Peretti GM, Gill TJ, Xu J, Randolph MA, Morse KR, Zaleske DJ. Cell‐based therapy for meniscal repair: a large animal study.. Am J Sports Med 2004;32:146‐158.
    pubmed: 14754738
  18. Angele P, Johnstone B, Kujat R. Stem cell based tissue engineering for meniscus repair.. J Biomed Mater Res A 2008;85A:445‐455.
    pubmed: 17729255
  19. Kon E, Chiari C, Marcacci M. Tissue engineering for total meniscal substitution: animal study in sheep model.. Tissue Eng 2007;14:1067‐1080.
    pubmed: 18500918
  20. Centeno CJ, Busse D, Kisiday J, Keohan C, Freeman M, Karli D. Regeneration of meniscus cartilage in a knee treated with percutaneously implanted autologous mesenchymal stem cells.. Med Hypotheses 2008;71:900‐908.
    pubmed: 18786777
  21. Frisbie DD, Hague BA, Kisiday JD. Stem Cells as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis.. Proceedings of American College of Veterinary Surgeons Surgical Summit 2007:39‐42.
  22. Kisiday JA, Kopesky PW, Evans CH, Grodzinsky AJ, McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD. Evaluation of adult equine bone marrow‐ and adipose‐derived progenitor cell chondrogenesis in hydrogel cultures.. J Orthop Res 2008;26:322‐331.
    pubmed: 17960654
  23. Vidal MA, Robinson SO, Lopez MJ. Comparison of chondrogenic potential in equine mesenchymal stromal cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow.. Vet Surg 2008;37:713‐724.
    pmc: PMC2746327pubmed: 19121166
  24. Berg LC, Koch TG, Heerkens T, Besonov K, Thomsen PD, Betts DH. Chondrogenic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from equine bone marrow and umbilical cord blood.. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2009;22:363‐370.
    pubmed: 19750290
  25. Frisbie DD, Kisiday JD, Kawcak CE, Werpy NM, McIlwraith CW. Evaluation of adipose derived stromal vascular fraction or bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of osteoarthritis.. J Orthop Res 2009;27:1675‐1680.
    pubmed: 19544397
  26. Murphy JM, Fink DJ, Hunziker EB, Barry FP. Stem cell therapy in a caprine model of osteoarthritis.. Arthritis Rheum 2003;48:3464‐3474.
    pubmed: 14673997
  27. Fortier LA, Potter HG, Rickey EJ. Concentrated bone marrow aspirate improves full‐thickness cartilage repair compared with microfracture in the equine model.. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2010;92:1927‐1937.
    pubmed: 20720135
  28. McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Rodkey WG. Evaluation of intra‐articular mesenchymal stem cells to augment healing of microfractured chondral defects.. Art Ther 2011;27:1552‐1561.
    pubmed: 21862278
  29. Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE, Werpy NM, McIlwraith CW. Evaluation of bone marrow derived stem cells and adipose derived stromal vascular fraction for treatment of osteoarthritis using an equine experimental model.. Proc Am Assoc Equine Pract 2006;52:420‐421.
  30. Nixon AJ, Begum L, Mohammed HO, Huibregtse B, O'Callaghan MM, Matthews GL. Autologous chondrocyte implantation drives early chondrogenesis and organized repair in extensive full‐ and partial‐thickness cartilage defects in an equine model.. J Orthop Res 2011;29:1121‐1130.
    pubmed: 21319216
  31. Frisbie DD, Stewart MC. Cell‐based therapies for equine joint disease.. Vet Clin Equine 2011;27:335‐349.
    pubmed: 21872762
  32. Wolkowski DD, McCarthy RD, Schoonover MJ, Taylor JD, Eastman TG. Effects of intra‐articular injection of an acellular equine liquid amniotic allograft in healthy equine joints.. Vet Surg 2023;52:62‐68.
    pubmed: 36408850
  33. Farr J, Gomoll AH, Yanke AB, Strauss EJ, Mowry KC. A randomized controlled single‐blind study demonstrating superiority of amniotic suspension allograft injection over hyaluronic acid and saline control for modification of knee osteoarthritis symptoms.. J Knee Surg 2019;32(11):1143‐1154.
    pubmed: 31533151
  34. Salazar‐Noratto GE, Nations CC, Stevens HY, Guldberg RE. Localized osteoarthritis disease‐modifying changes due to intra‐articular injection of micronized dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane.. Regen Eng Transl Med 2019;5(2):210‐219.
  35. Zavatti M, Beretti F, Casciaro F, Bertucci E, Maraldi T. Comparison of the therapeutic effect of amniotic fluid stem cells and their exosomes on monoiodoacetate‐induced animal model of osteoarthritis.. Biofactors 2020;46(1):106‐117.
    pubmed: 31625201
  36. Flannery CR, Seaman SA, Buddin KE. A novel placental tissue biologic, PTP‐001, inhibits inflammatory and catabolic responses in vitro and prevents pain and cartilage degeneration in a rat model of osteoarthritis.. Osteoarthr Cartil 2021;29(8):1203‐1212.
    pubmed: 34023528
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.