The correlation between score-based protocol for equine joint assessment and subsequent arthroscopic intervention outcomes

Authors

  • Marilene Machado Silva Universidade Federal do Paraná, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Setor Palotina, Palotina – PR, Brasil
  • Stefano Carlo Filippo Hagen Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia, São Paulo – SP, Brasil
  • Cynthia do Prado Vendruscolo Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, São Paulo – SP, Brasil
  • Raquel Yvonne Arantes Baccarin Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, São Paulo – SP, Brasil
  • Júlio David Spagnolo Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Hospital Veterinário, São Paulo – SP, Brasil
  • Ana Lúcia Miluzzi Yamada Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia, São Paulo – SP, Brasil
  • Fernanda de Castro Stievani Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia e Anestesiologia Veterinária, Botucatu - SP, Brasil
  • Luis Claúdio Lopes Correia da Silva Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Cirurgia, São Paulo – SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9939-3611

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2019.158072

Keywords:

Arthroscopy, Joint, Radiography, Score, Ultrasonography

Abstract

This study aimed to grade joint abnormalities in horses submitted to therapeutic arthroscopy using score-based protocols for equine joint assessment, correlated with arthroscopic treatment outcomes and owner satisfaction. In this prospective study, we evaluated 126 joints of athletic horses referred for arthroscopy. The joints were scored according to findings of medical history and physical, radiographic, ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examination. Lameness, positive response to flexion test and decreased maximum joint flexion angle were detected in more than 50% of joints. Soft tissue swelling, sclerosis, subchondral bone osteolysis and single osteochondral fragments were the most common radiographic findings. Ultrasonographic examination revealed changes in synovial fluid volume and appearance, and subchondral bone irregularities. Increased vascularity of the synovial villi, chondral fibrillation, chondral fissures and superficial cartilage erosions were the most significant arthroscopic findings. The approaches that demonstrated greater sensitivity and correlation with treatment outcome and owner satisfaction were medical history, ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examination. The scoring protocol employed to grade joint abnormalities enabled the creation of a joint score system for the objective assessment, thus determining the most frequent findings and establishing an injury severity score for each joint.

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References

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Published

2020-01-27

How to Cite

The correlation between score-based protocol for equine joint assessment and subsequent arthroscopic intervention outcomes. (2020). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 56(4), e158072. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.2019.158072