Publikationsdatenbank

Arthroscopic fragment removal for treatment of equine cervical articular process joint osteochondrosis (2021)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Lischer, C. J. (WE 17)

Schulze, N. (WE 17)

Ehrle, A. (WE 17)

Kongress

30th ECVS Annual Scientific Meeting

online, 08. – 10.07.2021

Quelle

Veterinary surgery : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the European College of Veterinary Surgeon

Seiten: 16

ISSN: 1532-950x

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vsu.13672

DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13672

Kontakt

Pferdeklinik

Oertzenweg 19 b
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62299 / 62300
pferdeklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Objectives:
Pathological conditions of the articular process joints (APJs) include osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), fracture and degenerative joint disease. Osteochondrosis of the cervical APJs may be an incidental finding but has also been associated with cervical nerve root and spinal cord compression, leading to clinical signs like decreased cervical range of motion, lameness and ataxia. The arthroscopic approach and anatomy of the cervical APJs has been described recently. To the best of the authors knowledge this is the first report detailing successful arthroscopic OCD fragment removal in the equine cervical spine APJs including long-term follow-up.

Methods:
Five Warmblood horses (aged 4-11 years) weighing 550–680 kg presented with intermittent fore-limb lameness and/or reduced range of motion of the cer-vical spine associated with osteochondral fragments between the cervical vertebrae C5/C6, C6/7 or C7/Th1. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia in lateral recumbency. The arthroscopic approach to the APJ was guided by radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging.

Results:
All horses made an uneventful recovery from surgery and remained comfortable thereafter. Fifteen to thirty-two months post-surgery three of the five horses performed in their intended use. The other two horses were still in the rehabilitation period (two tofive months post-surgery). None of the horses showed any sign of ataxia or reduced mobility of the cervicalspine.

Conclusions:
Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments can be performed safely in the equine caudalcervical articular process joints resulting in a favorable long-term outcome.