Vertical tears of the cranial horn of the meniscus and its cranial ligament in the equine femorotibial joint: 7 cases and their treatment by arthroscopic surgery.

The research paper investigates the impact of arthroscopic surgery on horses diagnosed with a vertical tear in either the medial or lateral meniscus of the cranial horn and its cranial ligament, revealing a significant benefit and suggesting an area of future development in equine veterinary medicine.

Study Participants and Procedure

• The study involved a total of 126 horses examined for stifle lameness. Among these, seven horses were diagnosed with a particular type of vertical tear in the cranial horn and its cranial ligament. Specifically, five horses had the tear in the medial meniscus while the other two had a similar injury in the lateral meniscus.
• The meniscus tear for all the diagnosed horses shared similar characteristics. Each tear was approximately 1 cm away from the axial border of the meniscus and its ligament.
• Except for one where the tear was incomplete, the rest of the torn tissue was loosely attached to the axial part inside the joint, from which it was surgically removed.

Radiographic Analysis and Post-Surgery Findings

• Radiographic analysis of six horses pointed to proliferative new bone on the cranial side of the tibia’s intercondylar eminence. Additionally, three horses showed calcified soft tissue densities in the cranial, medial or lateral femorotibial joint.
• Post-surgery treatment included six months of rest and controlled exercise. After this recovery period, three horses returned to their initial competition level, one was suitable for light riding (hacking), two were still in the process of convalescing, and one remained lame after one year.

Implications and Future Research

• Based on the findings of the research, it is suggested that this type of meniscal injury in horses could be characteristic and can be positively treated with arthroscopic surgery.
• However, the paper concludes by emphasizing the need for better techniques that allow access to the body and caudal pole of the menisci. This improvement will facilitate a more comprehensive diagnosis and effective treatment of meniscal injuries in horses.