Endoscopic surgery

Reasons for performing the study: The conventional arthroscopic approach to the palmar/plantar aspect of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) may result in the inadvertent penetration of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) and the navicular bursa (NB). This iatrogenic communication would be undesirable subsequent to arthroscopic lavage of a septic DIPJ.

Hypothesis: A lateral/medial approach to the palmar/plantar aspect of the DIPJ will result in a significantly lower rate of inadvertent penetration of the DFTS and NB, whilst still providing adequate intra-articular evaluation.

Objective: To report a tenoscopic technique using monopolar electrosurgery to transect the accessory ligament of superficial digital flexor muscle (AL-SDFM) and outcome in 33 horses.

Study Design: Case series.

Animals: Horses (n=33).

Methods: Medical files and surgery video recordings of horses that had AL-SDFM desmotomy performed by tenoscopy with monopolar electrosurgical electrodes were reviewed.

There is limited information on the treatment of lateral malleolus (LM) fractures in the horse, with no previously published case series for the outcome following arthroscopic removal of such fractures. This report reviews and evaluates findings of a retrospective study of 13 horses admitted to a private equine referral hospital over a 10 year period (1999–2009) that underwent arthroscopic removal of fractures of the LM.

Reasons for performing study: Medial meniscal injuries and subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) are known to occur independently within the medial femorotibial (MFT) joint in horses. However, there are no reports of a potential clinical relationship between these 2 types of lesions.

Objectives: To: 1) document the concurrent presence or sequential development of medial meniscal and SCL of the medial femoral condyle within the MFT joint; and 2) determine the prognosis with both types of lesions.