Modified toggle pin technique combined with prosthetic capsular reconstruction for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral luxation in a Shetland pony.

OBJECTIVE: To describe open reduction and surgical stabilization of a coxofemoral luxation in a pony using a modified toggle pin technique and prosthetic joint capsule reconstruction without osteotomy of the greater trochanter. ANIMAL: A 2-year-old Shetland pony with a bodyweight of 167 kg. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: Radiographic examination confirmed craniodorsal luxation of the left coxofemoral joint. An open reduction with the aid of a pulley system was performed. A toggle pin was inserted through a bone tunnel extending from the level of the femoral shaft through the femoral head and the center of the acetabulum for the pin to be positioned on the medial wall of the acetabulum. FiberWire was subsequently passed through the cranial and caudal aspects of the acetabulum as well as a transverse tunnel in the femoral neck in a figure of 8 to facilitate capsular reconstruction. The pony was placed in a sling for 8 weeks and gradually returned to normal activity over 2 months. RESULTS: Postoperative radiographic examination confirmed the position of the femoral head in the acetabulum with the implants in place. On 2-year follow-up the pony was sound at walk and trot. CONCLUSION: A combined intra- and extra-articular stabilization technique for coxofemoral luxation in a pony resulted in successful long-term reduction and excellent outcome.

Influence of Incubation Time and Incubation Tube on the Cytokine and Growth Factor Concentrations of Autologous Conditioned Serum in Horses.

Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is commonly used for the treatment of human and equine osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of incubation time and incubation tube on concentrations of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in ACS of horses with and without OA. Blood samples of 7 control horses and 6 horses with naturally occurring OA were obtained. The concentration of serum IL-1ra, IL-1ß, and IGF-1 was determined after 12, 24, and 36 hours of incubation using commercial serum vacutainer glass tubes (incubated serum [IS]) or a specific equine ACS system. There was no significant difference in IL-1ra, IL-1ß, and IGF-1 concentrations between IS and ACS samples detectable at 24 or 36 hours of incubation. The ACS of horses with OA and control horses did not contain significantly different cytokine or growth factor concentrations. In conclusion, an incubation time exceeding 24 hours does not lead to a significant increase in cytokine and growth factor concentrations in equine ACS. Incubation of whole blood in commercial serum glass tubes has similar effects on the IL-1ra, IL-1ß, and IGF-1 concentrations when compared with the incubation in specialized equine ACS kits. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, IL-1ß, and IGF-1 concentrations in ACS of OA horses is not significantly increased when compared with control horses.