Surgical arthrodesis of distal tarsal joints in 17 horses clinically affected with osteoarthritis.

This research focuses on the results of a surgical procedure called arthrodesis, performed on the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints of 17 horses suffering from lameness due to osteoarthritis. The study provides insights into the success rate of the technique, indicating that it is a viable option for treating lameness with rates comparable to other more invasive procedures.

Methodology

• The research was a retrospective clinical study conducted on client-owned horses that had been diagnosed with rear limb lameness as a result of osteoarthritis in the distal tarsal joints.
• The diagnosis was confirmed if the horses showed signs of relief after intra-articular anesthesia or intra-articular corticosteroid injections, indicating that the discomfort was indeed localized to the tarsal joints.
• A surgical process intended to stimulate ankylosis (joint fusion) was then performed on 27 hocks. This involved drilling three holes, each 3.2 mm wide and approximately 3 cm deep, in a diverging pattern, into the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints from the inner side of the limb.

Findings

• Postoperative assessments, telephone consultations with the clients, and the analysis of racing results were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgery.
• Overall, the procedure was considered successful in 71% of the cases. 85% of the horses that underwent a unilateral (one side) procedure and 60% of those that had a bilateral (both sides) procedure showed significant improvement.
• In racing horses, Standardbreds had a 100% success rate, while Thoroughbreds had a 67% success rate.
• The average period from surgery to the return to racing was approximately 9.5 months.

Conclusions

• The results suggest that this less invasive arthrodesis technique used to treat horses with osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints can effectively resolve lameness. Its success rate is similar to other, more invasive, surgical arthrodesis techniques but with less associated morbidity.

These findings are important for veterinarians trying to decide on the most efficient and least invasive method to treat horses suffering from osteoarthritis in the distal tarsal joints. It adds to the existing literature advocating for the use of surgical arthrodesis in such cases.