Treatment Comparison for Medial Femoral Condyle Subchondral Cystic Lesions and Prognosis in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorse Prospects.
Abstract: Subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) in the medial femoral condyle are a usual finding in Thoroughbred survey and auction repository radiographs. Several treatments with different outcomes have been studied over the years to improve soundness and racing prognosis. Our objective was to report the racing prognosis in Thoroughbred yearlings intended for racing that were diagnosed with SCL in the medial femoral condyle and were treated using four current and different techniques: intralesional injection of corticosteroids, SCL debridement through the joint with a drill bit, translesional cortical screw placement, and absorbable hydroxyapatite implant placement. Data from 182 Thoroughbred yearlings treated for SCL in the medial femoral condyle were collected from 2014 to 2020. Limb affected, age at surgery, sex, and radiographic measurements of the SCL were recorded. Auction price and racing performance were collected for treated horses and compared to 154 maternal siblings free of medial femoral condyle SCL. Analyses were conducted to assess if racing prognosis was affected by SCL size, to detect differences in auction price and selected flat racing outcome parameters between cases and controls, and to compare racing prognosis between the studied treatments. Mares and lesions located in the right stifle were significantly overrepresented. The auction price of treated horses was significantly lower than that of their siblings. Horses treated for SCL had significantly lower chances to start in a race than controls (59% vs. 74% respectively). Wider SCL negatively affected the chances to start at least in one race, and negatively affected the earnings made in the 2-year-olds' racing year. Horses with SCL treated using a bioabsorbable implant had a significantly higher median in starts as 3-year-olds (seven starts) than horses that had the SCL debrided with a drill bit (three starts). In conclusion, Thoroughbred yearlings treated for a medial femoral condyle SCL had lower auction prices and decreased ability to start a race compared to siblings' wider cysts had worse prognosis to start a race and might affect earnings as 2-year-olds; and horses treated with bioabsorbable composite implant placement had more starts as 3-year-olds than with other techniques.
Publication Date: 2024-04-06 PubMed ID: 38612360PubMed Central: PMC11010810DOI: 10.3390/ani14071122Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article investigates different treatment methods for subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) found in Thoroughbred yearlings and their impacts on horse auction prices and racing prognosis. Findings suggest SCL presence can lower auction prices and chances to start a race, with larger cysts having worse effects and highlighting the superior performance of a bioabsorbable composite implant treatment.
Objective and Methods of the Study
- The aim of the research was to assess the impact of four different treatments for subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) on Thoroughbred yearlings’ racing prospects and auction prices. SCLs are a frequent occurrence in Thoroughbreds’ medial femoral condyles.
- The four treatments in question are intralesional injection of corticosteroids, SCL debridement with a drill bit, translesional cortical screw placement, and absorbable hydroxyapatite implant placement.
- Over the course of six years from 2014 to 2020, data was compiled from 182 Thoroughbred yearlings that were diagnosed and treated for SCL. The horses’ affected limbs, age at surgery, sex, and radiographic measurements were recorded for further analysis.
- Auction price and racing performance data was also collected for the treated horses and compared with 154 maternal siblings that showed no SCL.
Key Findings
- The findings highlighted a significant overrepresentation in mares and lesions located in the right stifle.
- It was observed that Thoroughbred yearlings treated for SCL saw significantly lower auction prices compared with their siblings who were free of SCL.
- Horses treated for SCL also had fewer chances to start in a race when compared to their counterparts without SCL (59% versus 74% respectively).
- Wider subchondral cystic lesions not only lowered the chances of starting a race but also negatively impacted the earnings made in the horse’s 2-year-olds’ racing year.
Implications and Conclusions
- The research revealed that horses with SCL treated using a bioabsorbable composite implant had significantly more starts as 3-year-olds (seven starts) compared to horses whose SCL was debrided using a drill bit (three starts).
- The study concludes that the presence of medial femoral condyle SCL in Thoroughbred yearlings leads to lower auction prices and decreased ability to start a race compared to their unaffected siblings. Larger cysts affect the prognosis for starting a race and may also impact earnings in their 2-year-olds’ racing year.
- The results also suggest that treatment using bioabsorbable composite implant placement led to a greater number of race starts as 3-year-olds compared to other techniques.
Cite This Article
APA
Pérez-Nogués M, Manso-Díaz G, Spirito M, López-Sanromán J.
(2024).
Treatment Comparison for Medial Femoral Condyle Subchondral Cystic Lesions and Prognosis in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorse Prospects.
Animals (Basel), 14(7), 1122.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071122 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, 4747 SW 60Th St., Ocala, FL 34474, USA.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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