Stifle lameness in the horse: a survey of 86 referred cases.

This research article provides a detailed survey on stifle lameness in horses, revealing that most of these horses were lame for weeks before referral. The study outlines the common diagnoses and their frequencies, the types of treatments used, and the prognosis for each of these conditions.

Overview of the Study

• The study focused on the clinical and radiological characteristics of stifle lameness in horses, specifically looking at 86 cases that were referred to the researchers. “Stifle lameness” refers to a limp or abnormal gait caused by the horse’s inability to move its stifle joint normally, much like a knee in humans.
• It was observed that the majority of these cases had been lame for several weeks before they were referred to the researchers, suggesting a delay in diagnosis or treatment.

Common Diagnoses

• The frequent diagnoses made were osteochondrosis dissecans (13%) and subchondral bone cyst (38%). These conditions were primarily seen in Thoroughbreds, mostly at or before the beginning of their training. Differently said, these conditions largely affected young, athletic horses.
• Other bone lesions found in the cases include osteoarthritis (3%), fractures (4%), and “epiphysitis” (1%). The commonest soft tissue condition was an atypical or partial upward fixation of the patella, accounting for 15% of the cases.
• Ligamentous/meniscal damage made up 12% of the cases and the remaining 13% was attributed to non-specific strain of the stifle joint.

Treatment and Prognosis

• The researchers found that the treatment for most of these chronic stifle injuries consisted of a period of rest followed by a gradual return to exercise. In some cases, this was combined with a short course of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
• However, the prognosis varied depending on the condition. Most cases of osteochondrosis dissecans were “grave to hopeless.” On the other hand, the majority of the horses with a subchondral bone cyst showed improvement after an extended period of rest, specifically after about 6 months.
• Ligamentous/meniscal damage usually responded satisfactorily to rest, as long as there was no substantial tearing or rupture of the ligament or meniscus.
• Chronic osteoarthritis cases, however, had a poor outcome and these cases did not respond satisfactorily to analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication.