Outcomes for athroscopic surgery for osteochondritis dissecans and trauma joint fragment in racehorses

摘要

We report outcomes for arthroscopic surgery for chip fracture of carpus and stifle joints due to osteochondritis dissecans and trauma in 1 to 9 year old male and female arabian, mixed and thoroughbred racehorses over 2 years. We observed grade 2 or 3lameness mostly in male horses with 53% three to 4 year old carpus and stifle chip fractures. Twenty horses (66%) underwent arthroscopic procedures in a single joint whereas 33% had more than one joint. After surgery we detected arthritis in 2 horses (6.66%), one (3.33%) participated in 4 races. Follow up revealed that 83.33% of horses returned to normal racing. Findings suggest arthroscopic surgery can manage lameness due to osteochodritis dessicans, osteochondral fragments and chip fractures.