Soft tissue injuries of the tarsocrural joint: a retrospective analysis of 30 cases evaluated arthroscopically.
Abstract: Intra-articular soft tissue injuries of the equine tarsocrural joint have been poorly defined. Methods: All horses that underwent arthroscopic surgery of a tarsocrural joint over a 10 year period were identified. Those with primary intra-articular soft tissue injuries were selected for inclusion and the cases evaluated retrospectively. Results: Two hundred and eighty-one horses underwent tarsocrural joint arthroscopy during the study period, 30 of which met the inclusion criteria (30 joints). A combination of soft tissue lesions was more common than injury to a single structure. Injuries involved the joint capsule (n = 25), collateral ligaments (n = 20), dorsal plica (n = 8) and open communication between the tarsocrural joint and extensor bundle (n = 7). Following arthroscopic surgery and rehabilitation, 81% of horses were able to return to their previous function. Conclusions: Intra-articular soft tissue injuries of the tarsocrural joint may be associated with localising clinical signs of inflammation. This series represented 11% of the total number of arthroscopic procedures undertaken on that joint in a single referral hospital. Arthroscopic surgery allows accurate definition of the injuries and facilitates lesion management. Case outcome following arthroscopic debridement and a subsequent period of rehabilitation is favourable. Conclusions: In lame horses with clinical signs localised to the tarsocrural joint, disrupted intra-articular soft tissues should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses. Attending clinicians should consider arthroscopic evaluation in cases where primary intra-articular soft tissue injuries are suspected to be causative.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-11-23 PubMed ID: 23173847DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00685.xGoogle 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 research paper discusses a retrospective analysis of 30 cases of soft tissue injuries of the tarsocrural joint in horses. The injuries were evaluated using arthroscopic surgery, with the study revealing valuable insights about the types and common combinations of these injuries.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study identifies all the horses that had undergone arthroscopic surgery of the tarsocrural joint within a time span of ten years.
- Of the identified cases, those with primary intra-articular soft tissue injuries were selected for in-depth analysis.
- This non-random selection of horses and the retrospective evaluation of the cases is crucial in defining the types, combinations, and frequency of various injuries within this joint.
Results and Findings
- From the identified 281 cases of tarsocrural joint arthroscopy, only 30 met the study’s inclusion criteria. Meaning, just over 11% of the cases involved soft tissue injuries in the joint.
- The study revealed that combination injuries were more common than injuries to a single structure. This insight can potentially direct future research and treatment strategies.
- The most common injuries were reported in the joint’s capsule and collateral ligaments. The study noted open communication between the tarsocrural joint and extensor bundle in seven cases, indicating a significant issue that clinicians need to watch out for during diagnostics and treatment.
- Notably, this study reveals an optimistic outlook, observing that after arthroscopic surgery and proper rehabilitation, around 81% of the studied horses successfully returned to their previous function levels. This finding emphasizes the practicality and beneficial consequences of arthroscopic evaluation and intervention.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- It was suggested that intra-articular soft tissue injuries could be responsible for localised clinical signs of inflammation in the tarsocrural joint of horses.
- Giving disrupted intra-articular soft tissues prominence in differential diagnoses assessments could improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment of lame horses showing signs of tarsocrural joint issues.
- The paper recommends attending clinicians to consider arthroscopic evaluation explicitly in cases where primary intra-articular soft tissue injuries are suspected to be causative. This recommendation is based on the high success rate of diagnosing and treating these injuries via arthroscopic surgery.
Cite This Article
APA
Barker WH, Smith MR, Minshall GJ, Wright IM.
(2012).
Soft tissue injuries of the tarsocrural joint: a retrospective analysis of 30 cases evaluated arthroscopically.
Equine Vet J, 45(4), 435-441.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00685.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Newmarket Equine Hospital, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / surgery
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Tarsus, Animal / pathology
- Tarsus, Animal / surgery
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Bogers SH. Cell-Based Therapies for Joint Disease in Veterinary Medicine: What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:70.
- Delco ML, Kennedy JG, Bonassar LJ, Fortier LA. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle: A distinct clinical entity requiring new research approaches.. J Orthop Res 2017 Mar;35(3):440-453.
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
