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Early Removal of Osteochondral Fragments Could Be Helpful

Early removal of osteochondral fragments in the metacarpo−/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint could help prevent cartilage injuries in equine athletes (Equine Vet J. 2023 March 15. https://doi. org/10.1111/evj.13937 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.13937).

In this retrospective observational study, the researchers assessed the prevalence of cartilage injury in the joint and its association to fragment size, location, age and lameness in the MCP/MTP joint compared with fragments in the palmar/plantar compartment.

They also wanted to know if older horses with MCP/MTP joint fragments presented with more cartilage injury than younger ones.

They reviewed the clinical records of 823 MCP/ MTP joints in 640 horses that underwent arthroscopic fragment removal, noting the fragment size, intra-articular fragment location and cartilage injury score. They retrospectively evaluated synovitis in 157 joints.

They found cartilage injury in 28.8% of joints, but cartilage injury and lameness were not associated with fragment size. Age and lameness were associated with cartilage injury, as well as fragment location, with dorsal fragments being more likely to be associated with cartilage lesions than palmar/plantar fragments. They found no association between radiographic fragment size, presence of synovitis and cartilage injury, but the likelihood of a cartilage lesions increases with dorsal fragmentation, lameness and older age. MeV