Use of a suprapatellar pouch portal and laparoscopic cannula for removal of debris or loose fragments following arthroscopy of the femoropatellar joint of 168 horses (245 joints).

The article discusses the successful use of a special approach called the suprapatellar pouch (SPP) for removing debris or loose bodies after post-arthroscopic procedures in the femoropatellar joint (FPJ) of horses. The researchers validate this method’s safety and use a tool called a laparoscopic cannula in the process.

Overview of the Study

• The research was a retrospective case study utilizing 168 horses who had osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a condition affecting the FPJ.
• The researchers performed the arthroscopy on 245 FPJs suffering from OCD.

Methodology

• Two subpatellar portals were created, one on the axial and one adbaxial to the lateral patellar ligament.
• The suprapatellar pouch (SPP) egress portal for lavage was situated 2 cm proximal to the most palpable dorsolateral eminence of the patellar base.
• A 10-mm laparoscopic cannula and trocar unit was used in all SPP portals.
• The SPP portal was closed in two layers in the first 121 horses, and only skin level in the subsequent 47 horses.
• Data was collected via medical records review for complications and surgical time, and owner satisfaction with cosmetics.

Outcome of Study

• No complications were recorded for the SPP portal, regardless of the closure technique used
• All owners were satisfied with the cosmetic results once the hair had grown back. They reported that they did not believe that the additional incision significantly affected the horses when presented for public auction.
• The average surgery time was 27.7 min per joint.

Conclusion

The use of a SPP portal and laparoscopic cannula was validated as a safe and efficient method. It was particularly successful as it did not show any associated complications, and it had significant owner satisfaction ratings. The study implies that this method can potentially be a standard practice in the surgical management of OCD in horses’ FPJ.