Diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints

Contrast radiography in the equine orthopaedic case

“…; McIlwraith et al . ). Ultrasonography has the added benefit of localising the proliferation to the synovial pad's lateral or medial aspects (medial more common) and allowing optimal arthroscopic portal placement (McIlwraith et al .…”

“…Historically, contrast radiography was the diagnostic method of choice for the identification of chronic synovial pad fibrotic proliferation (Nickels et al 1976). Ultrasonography is now frequently the method of choice over contrast radiography, allowing identification at an earlier stage (Steyn et al 1989;McIlwraith et al 2014). Ultrasonography has the added benefit of localising the proliferation to the synovial pad's lateral or medial aspects (medial more common) and allowing optimal arthroscopic portal placement (McIlwraith et al 2014).…”

Osteochondral Fragmentation in the Synovial Pad of the Fetlock in Warmblood Horses

“…The site for the instrument portal was determined by needle placement to ensure optimal access to the fragment. Fragment removal sometimes necessitated partial or complete synovial pad resection using either sharp instruments 14 or electrocautery 15,16 . During arthroscopy, the dorsal aspect of the fetlock joint was evaluated for the presence of abnormalities such as mild synovitis (moderate increase in density of normal synovial villi), severe synovial proliferation (important increase in the density of the villi and/or presence of severely thickened synovial villi), wear lines, cartilage erosions (local partial thickness cartilage loss), or severe cartilage damage (full‐thickness cartilage loss, exposure, and/or damage of subchondral bone) on the dorsal aspect of the condyle.…”

Subchondral bone cyst of the apical portion of the proximal sesamoid bone as a cause of severe lameness in aWarmblood filly

“…The right MTP and the left MCP joints were explored and the respective proximal sagittal ridge lesions were debrided arthroscopically through a dorsal approach as previously described (McIlwraith et al . ). The filly recovered from anaesthesia uneventfully and walked back to the stall with no apparent lameness.…”

“…After thoroughly lavaging the joint with sterile polyionic fluids, morphine (0.05 mg/kg bwt) was injected into the joint and the incisions were closed routinely. The right MTP and the left MCP joints were explored and the respective proximal sagittal ridge lesions were debrided arthroscopically through a dorsal approach as previously described (McIlwraith et al 2005). The filly recovered from anaesthesia uneventfully and walked back to the stall with no apparent lameness.…”