Transfixation cast technique for arthrodesis of the distal interphalangeal joint of horses.

This research article focuses on a surgical method for arthrodesis of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint in horses using transfixation casting, applied on two young fillies suffering from chronic lameness due to infection. It highlights the method’s success by not requiring insertion of implants across the joint.

Research Objective and Subjects

• The study aimed to explore a novel surgical technique – the transfixation casting – for joint arthrodesis on horses. Specifically, it involved the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, which is located at the hoof’s base, an area prone to infections causing chronic lameness.
• The technique was applied on two young female horses that were selected as the study subjects due to their chronic lameness, likely induced by infection in their DIP joints. One of them was a three-year-old filly and the other was a yearling.

Surgical Method – Transfixation Casting

• The researchers used the transfixation casting method, a not widely utilized surgical technique for arthrodesis on horses to ease their chronic pain.
• This procedure involves the placement of a supportive structure (a cast) around the affected joint to hold it in the correct position and promote healing and bone fusion.

Difference from Existing Techniques

• The study highlights that the salient feature of the technique, in contrast to previously used ones for DIP joint arthrodesis, is the absence of the necessity for implant insertion across the joint.
• By eliminating the need for introducing foreign objects in the joint, it presumably reduces complications from potential implant-related issues. This concept is suggested to have contributed to the successful outcome in both cases of this study.

Outcome of the Study

• The turnout of the transfixation casting technique was positive; the two study subjects recovered from their chronic condition. The effective cure was attributed to the unique approach of this surgical technique, not necessitating the insertion of implants across the DIP joint.