Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments of the cervical articular process joints in three horses.
Authors: Schulze Nicole, Ehrle Anna, Beckmann Ina, Lischer Christoph
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Arthroscopic Management of Cervical Articular Process Joint Fragments in Horses Osteochondral fragments within the cervical articular process joints (APJs) represent a challenging source of forelimb lameness and cervical dysfunction in horses, yet surgical options have remained limited. Schulze and colleagues present a case series of three Warmblood horses treated via arthroscopic fragment removal from the C5/C6 and C6/C7 APJs under general anaesthesia, with fragments extracted using standard rongeur instrumentation following joint visualisation. All three horses recovered without significant anaesthetic complications, though one required a second procedure for complete fragment removal, and crucially, all were sound and performing their intended work at 14–31 months post-operatively with normal neurological examinations. This work demonstrates that arthroscopy offers a safe and effective minimally invasive approach to a previously difficult diagnosis, with favourable long-term functional outcomes that should encourage practitioners to consider this technique when osteochondral fragments are confirmed on imaging in horses presenting with cervical pain, restricted range of motion, or subtle forelimb lameness of spinal origin.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Arthroscopy is a viable, safe treatment option for horses with osteochondral fragments in the cervical spine causing lameness or reduced neck mobility
- •Surgeons should be aware that some cases may require a second procedure to fully resolve the condition
- •Expect good long-term outcomes with horses returning to functional use, though limited sample size warrants caution in generalizing results
Key Findings
- •Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments from cervical APJs (C5/C6 and C6/C7) was performed successfully in 3 horses with minimal anesthetic complications
- •One horse required a second procedure for complete fragment removal
- •Long-term follow-up at 14-31 months post-surgery showed all horses were sound for their intended use with normal neurological examinations