Surgical arthrodesis for the treatment of osteoarthrosis of the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints in 30 horses: A comparison of four different techniques

Abstract

Summary Over a period of seven years, 30 horses were treated by surgical arthrodesis for lameness resulting from osteoarthrosis of the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints (bone and occult spavin). Twenty‐five horses were affected in one hock only and five were affected bilaterally. Four different techniques for achieving arthrodesis were used. Fourteen out of 18 horses (78 per cent) with involvement of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints only and six out of 11 horses (55 per cent) in which the proximal intertarsal joint was also involved became sound following surgery. The status of one other horse, with involvement of the proximal intertarsal joint, is not known.

Treatment of Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis by Arthrodesis in 12 Horses

“…The 2 horses that were slightly lame were functioning well at their previous level of performance. Overall, this compares favorably with reported outcome for arthrodesis of the distal tarsal or proximal interphalangeal joints (57–85% successful outcome) 4,6,11–13 …”

“…We chose an arthrodesis technique using drilling because of the anatomic similarities between the CMC joint and distal tarsal joints, and because of the reported outcome after drilling of the distal tarsal joints 4,11,12,14 . Because the CMC joint has multiple articulations with an uneven articular surface, we thought introducing the drill bit in multiple sites (3–5) would be necessary to cause sufficient cartilage and subchondral damage to promote bony ankylosis of all articulations.…”

Tiludronate infusion in the treatment of bone spavin: A double blind placebo‐controlled trial

“…Comparing the success of surgical treatments, surgical arthrodesis is reported to be 80% successful in 6–9 months (Edwards 1982; Auer 1992). Implants do not appear to affect the convalescence time, but may be associated with a higher success rate (Wyn‐Jones and May 1986). Subchondral fenestration was thought effective in 25 out of 40 (63%) horses (Sonnichsen and Svalastoga 1985).…”

“…Other treatments include a variety of methods to arthrodese the joints such as drilling to remove cartilage (Adams 1970; Edwards 1982), drilling combined with implants such as stainless steel transfixion pins (Mackay and Liddell 1972), stainless steel baskets containing autogenous cancellous bone grafts (Archer et al . 1988), screws and/or a ‘T’‐plate (Wyn‐Jones and May 1986; Auer 1992). Arthrodesis with diode laser has also been described (Scruton et al .…”

Computed Tomographic Documentation of a Comminuted Fourth Carpal Bone Fracture Associated with Carpal Instability Treated by Partial Carpal Arthrodesis in an Arabian Filly

“…In equine surgery, fusion of joints remains challenging even with recent advanced surgical techniques, mainly because of patient weight and size, biomechanical load, technical difficulties and postoperative complications 10 . In horses, arthrodesis of the proximal/distal interphalangeal, 11,12 metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal, 13,14 carpal (partial 15 and pancarpal 16 ), scapulohumeral, 17 distal tarsal, 18 and talocalcaneal 19 joints has been described using different techniques. Generally, artificial fusion of low motion joints may preserve limited use of the horse and arthrodesis of high motion joints is considered as salvage procedure after severe injury or degenerative changes for valuable breeding stock 10 …”