Use of a three-drill-tract technique for arthrodesis of the distal tarsal joints in horses with distal tarsal osteoarthritis: 54 cases (1990–1999)

Abstract

Results suggest that distal tarsal OA in horses can be successfully treated by means of distal tarsal arthrodesis with a 3-drill-tract technique. Horses with advanced distal tarsal OA are likely to have poorer outcomes, and the procedure will likely be of minimal benefit in horses with concomitant causes of hind limb lameness prior to surgery and in horses with preexisting proximal intertarsal joint disease.

Reliability of a Quantitative Rating Scale for Assessment of Horses With Distal Tarsal Osteoarthritis

“…In conclusion, we do not advocate the clinical use of the radiographic rating scale developed in this study unless each user assesses his personal repeatability first and obtains similar results to Assessor 7 in this study. Dichotomous rating scales, assessing the presence of osteoarthritic changes only 9 or scales incorporating only few ratings 8,17 may therefore be more repeatable, as has been shown in humans 11,12 and dogs 14 . The knowledge of radiographic features selected by experts according to their diagnostic value for distal tarsal osteoarthritis may be of considerable importance to the development of other rating scales.…”

“…Despite the poor correlation between the severity of radiographic changes of distal tarsal osteoarthritis and lameness, 2,6,7 radiographic signs are used to monitor disease. This is of particular importance when the outcome of surgical arthrodesis of tarsal joints is assessed 8,9 …”

Musculoskeletal Injuries in Nonracing Quarter Horses

“…A variety of methods for surgical arthrodesis of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints have been described [52]. In a report of 54 cases treated by drilling three tracts across the joint spaces, 59% of these cases had a successful outcome [53]. Facilitation of arthrodesis using a surgical laser to damage the articular cartilage locally has also been described; although it may not result in as much bone bridging across the joint spaces, it may result in soundness with less morbidity than other methods [54].…”

Use of ethanol in the treatment of distal tarsal joint osteoarthritis: 24 cases

“…Those available can be divided into nonsurgical and surgical [6]. Surgical options include procedures aiming to stimulate ankylosis of the small tarsal joints [7,8], to desensitise the area by tibial neurectomy [9] or to reduce pressure on the tarsus by cunean tenectomy [6]. Surgical options include procedures aiming to stimulate ankylosis of the small tarsal joints [7,8], to desensitise the area by tibial neurectomy [9] or to reduce pressure on the tarsus by cunean tenectomy [6].…”