Arthroscopic findings and long-term outcomes in 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries (2008-2018).

OBJECTIVE: To report the findings and long-term outcome of 76 sport horses with meniscal injury. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Seventy-six horses with 93 meniscal injuries in 85 stifles. METHODS: Medical records of sport horses diagnosed with meniscal injury during arthroscopy were reviewed. Owner follow up was obtained via telephone interview ≥1.5 years postoperatively. Preoperative and intraoperative findings, and postoperative treatments, were analyzed for potential association with return to athletic performance. RESULTS: The medial meniscus was involved in 82.8% of cases, with grade 1 injuries diagnosed in 76.3% of menisci. Overall, 85.5% of horses returned to athletic performance, with 40% returning to their previous level. The grade of meniscal injury was associated with long-term outcome (P = .023). The presence of preoperative radiographic abnormalities (P = .259) or additional joint pathology (P = 1.00) was not associated with long-term outcomes. Fifty-nine stifles were treated with an orthobiologic: autologous conditioned serum, platelet-rich plasma, or marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. There was no association between the use of any orthobiologic and long-term outcome (P = .394). CONCLUSION: This is the first report on long-term outcome of sport horses with meniscal injuries following arthroscopic surgery. Overall, the long-term prognosis was fair, with 40% of horses returning to their previous level of use. Severity of the meniscal injury was a prognostic indicator for return to work. The presence of radiographic abnormalities or additional joint pathology, or the use of orthobiologics, was not associated with long-term outcome. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These findings can help in prognostication for sport horses with meniscal injuries.

Ex vivo radiocontrast description of the caudal epigastric arteries in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the location of the deep and superficial caudal epigastric arteries in relation to 3 midline positions and the relationship between the location of these arteries, body circumference, and body condition score. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive anatomical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Nine horses, aged 1-28 years (mean 10.61 ± 8.89 SD). METHODS: Body condition score and body circumference were measured prior to euthanasia. Angiographic studies of the deep and superficial caudal epigastric arteries were performed on resected abdominal walls. The distances between the deep and the superficial caudal epigastric arteries and 3 midline positions were measured. Correlations among these distances, body circumference, and body condition score were analyzed. RESULTS: The location of the deep caudal epigastric artery correlated with body circumference and body condition score at the umbilicus (r = 0.53 and 0.68, respectively), midpoint landmark (r = 0.79 and 0.83, respectively), and prepubic tendon attachment (r = 0.69 and 0.78, respectively). The course of this artery could be estimated by multiplying body circumference by 0.04 ± 0.02 at the umbilicus, 0.07 ± 0.01 at the midpoint landmark, and 0.03 ± 0.015 at the prepubic tendon attachment. The course of the superficial caudal epigastric artery did not correlate with anatomic landmarks. CONCLUSION: The course of the deep caudal epigastric artery could be estimated at 3 midline landmarks on the basis of body circumference and body condition score in equine cadavers. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Predicting the course of the caudal epigastric arteries in the equine abdomen based on correlation among location, body circumference, and body condition score may prevent iatrogenic damage during creation of laparoscopic portals.