A 10-year study of arthroscopic surgery in racing Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses with osteochondral fragmentation of the carpus.
Authors: Graham R J T Y, Rosanowski S M, McILWRAITH C W
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Arthroscopic Treatment of Carpal Osteochondral Fragmentation in Racing Horses Over a decade (2006–2016), researchers reviewed surgical records for 828 racehorses (416 Quarter Horses and 412 Thoroughbreds) that underwent arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments from the carpus, examining how fragment location and severity influenced post-operative racing outcomes. Quarter Horses presented with markedly higher rates of bilateral lesions (65% versus 27% in Thoroughbreds), with the dorsodistal radial carpal bone affected in nearly half of all cases across both breeds. An encouraging 82% of horses returned to racing post-surgery, and notably 69.5% competed at the same level or higher, though outcomes deteriorated significantly with advancing age, female sex, higher-grade lesions (grade 4), and no prior racing record. These findings suggest that whilst arthroscopic surgery remains a viable option for most racehorses with carpal fragmentation, prognostic counselling should account for individual risk factors—particularly lesion severity and the horse's pre-existing competitive performance—as these substantially influence the likelihood of returning to race-level competition.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Arthroscopic removal of carpal osteochondral fragments has good success rates for return to racing (82%), making it a viable treatment option for racehorses with this condition
- •Lesion severity (grade 4) is a significant predictor of poor outcome; severity and location differ between breeds and should guide prognosis discussion with owners
- •Younger horses and those already racing pre-surgery have better post-operative outcomes; female horses and older animals warrant more cautious prognostication
Key Findings
- •82% of horses (686/828) returned to racing post-arthroscopic surgery, with 69.5% racing at the same or higher competitive level
- •Bilateral lesions were significantly more common in Quarter Horses (65%) than Thoroughbreds (27%)
- •The dorsodistal radial carpal bone was the most commonly affected site (48.6% of lesions)
- •Factors associated with failure to return to racing included increasing age, female sex, and lesion grade 4, while pre-surgery racing activity was protective