Chapter 81 - Surgical treatment of joint disease Flashcards
Which two main treatment goals are highlighted for equine joint disease?
Pain relief for functional use of the joint and arrest of disease progression.
What type of joint disease is typically treated with medical management and exercise protocols?
Generalized osteoarthritis (OA).
What are the two main functions of arthroscopy in joint disease management?
Diagnostic and therapeutic functions.
How is arthroscopy considered when compared to more complex imaging modalities?
It is viewed as the gold standard due to its specificity and sensitivity.
What novel technique is being researched alongside arthroscopy for assessing cartilage and subchondral bone?
Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR).
What kind of information can optical coherence tomography (OCT) provide during arthroscopy?
Detailed, quantitative information about morphology of articular cartilage lesions.
What has increased awareness of joint pathology in the stifle joint led to?
Increased recognition of meniscal and cruciate lesions that are not detectable by radiography.
What is one potential benefit of lavage during arthroscopy?
The egress of joint fluid that may contain cytokines and cartilage wear particles.
In what type of cases is arthroscopy generally found to be more therapeutically beneficial?
Acute cases, rather than chronic cases.
Which chronic pathologies can sometimes be managed successfully with arthroscopy?
Osteonecrosis and cartilage fibrillation of the third carpal bone.
Why do newly detached osteochondral fragments have a better treatment outcome if removed early?
Because early removal before OA develops prevents further joint degeneration.
What is the main challenge associated with performing arthroscopy in terms of visual clarity?
Bleeding of intrasynovial tissues can impair visualization unless inert gas is used for distention.
Figure 81-1. Arthroscopic image of a chip fragment off the distal radial carpal bone before (A) and after removal (B).
Figure 81-2. (A) Arthroscopic image of a slab fracture of the third carpal bone before reduction. (B) Lateromedial radiographic view of the slab fracture seen in (A) after reduction and fixation using a 4.5-mm cortex screw in lag fashion.
Name the % for each prognosis:
excellent
good
guarded
poor
excellent 80% to 90% chance of athletic soundness
good 60% to 80%
guarded 40% to 60%
poor <40%
What are the joints with good surgical removal of the osteochondral chip?
1 . extensor process
2. dorsal frontal p1 displaced and nondisplaced
3. proximodrosal P1
4. Plantar P1 (exceelent)
5. Palmar P1 (excellent)
6. Apical sesamoid
7. Abaxial sesamoid
8. Proximal RC
9. Proximal IC
10. Distal IC
What are the joints with guarded surgical removal of the osteochondral chip?
- P2 not involving DIP joint
- Palmar P1
- Basilar Sesamoid
- Distal RC
- C3
What are the joints with poor surgical removal of the osteochondral chip?
- P2 involving DIP joint
and medical treatment of apical sesamoid
Under what conditions are osteochondral fragments typically removed from horses?
Fragments are removed when diagnosed in conjunction with clinical lameness.
Why might some osteochondral fragments be left in place?
If they are considered relatively benign and the horse does not exhibit clinical lameness.
How has the routine use of arthroscopy affected the outcomes of osteochondral fragment removal?
It has improved outcomes compared to removal using arthrotomy.
What is the general procedure for removing multiple osteochondral fragments?
Smaller fragments are typically removed first to avoid excessive portal size and maintain visualization.
What is the significance of arthroscopic visualization when reconstructing intraarticular fractures?
It ensures proper alignment and optimal repair of the articular component for better outcomes.
What tools are often used to prepare the parent bone during osteochondral fragment removal?
Hand curettes are used to débride the bone and smooth edges.
Name two common types of intraarticular fractures encountered in equine athletes.
Condylar fractures of the third metacarpus (MCIII) and slab fractures of the third carpal bone.
What technique is commonly used for internal fixation of intraarticular fractures?
Lag technique with screws.
What is the primary purpose of performing a synovectomy in horses?
To aid arthroscopic visualization and as a therapeutic treatment for conditions like septic arthritis.
How can the removal of synovium contribute to the treatment of septic arthritis?
It helps eliminate fibrin that may harbor bacteria, preventing recurrence of infection.
In which equine joints is synovial membrane removal or synovectomy most frequently performed?
Tarsocrural, distal interphalangeal, and elbow joints.
What methodologies have been used for conducting synovectomy in horses?
Surgery, chemicals, and radioisotopes, with motorized synovial resection being the most common surgical method.
Why is complete understanding of the synovial membrane’s role in equine joint disease still developing?
The role is not as well characterized as in humans, particularly in various forms of arthritis.
What are the two main types of damage typically described in equine articular cartilage?
Chronic degenerative lesions and acute damage.
What is the typical assessment approach for evaluating the outcome of cartilage repair?
Assessment is based on biochemical content, histologic appearance, biomechanical properties, and functional outcomes.
Why do partial-thickness lesions and full-thickness articular cartilage lesions not heal spontaneously in horses?
Due to the specialized structure of articular cartilage and its limited regenerative capacity.
When treating cartilage lesions, what approach is generally taken concerning the degree of débridement?
Minimally débride the cartilage, only removing damaged areas while leaving intact cartilage in place.
What are the three classes of surgical options for cartilage repair mentioned in the text?
Palliative, reparative, and restorative.
What does reparative surgical care include?
Marrow stimulation techniques, including microfracture.
How are modern surgical techniques for cartilage repair evolving?
Techniques are combining methods and augmenting them with growth factors and other treatments for improved outcomes.
Intra-articular fractures which ones are good prognosis?
- Distal phalanx (except extensor process)
- Proximal phalanx simple non-disp
- Proximal phalanx noncommunituded displaced
- MCIII/MTIII (noncommun)
- MCIII/MTIII (complete nondisplaced)
- MCIII/MTIII (incomplete nondisplaced)
Intra-articular fractures which ones are poor prognosis?
- Middle phalanx comminuted (S and M)
- Proximal phalanx comminuted
- Proximal sesamoid (midbody)
- MCIII/MTIII displaced
- C3 slab medical tx
- C3 slab saggittal
Intra-articular fractures which ones are excellent prognosis?
- MCIII/MTIII (incompl, nondisplac) S and M tx
2.