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Postoperative performance of racing horses with tearing of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament
Author(s) -
WHITTON RC,
KANNEGIETER NJ,
ROSE RJ
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb12905.x
Subject(s) - tearing , ligament , anatomy , medicine , engineering , mechanical engineering
Objective To examine the relationship between medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL) tearing and postoperative performance in racing horses. Materials and methods The postoperative performance of 42 horses in which the midcarpal joint was examined arthroscopically was followed prospectively. Intra‐articular variables examined were the severity of MPICL tearing, subchondral bone damage and articular cartilage damage. Using a scoring system based on the class of race and the position in the race, a mean score was calculated for up to five races before and after surgery. The preoperative score was subtracted from the postoperative score to give a net score. Statistical analysis was by a Mann Whitney U test and multiple linear regression. Results Thirty‐two (76%) raced postoperatively, 23 (55%) won at least one race and 12 of 26 (46%) performed at the same or higher level. Horses with grades 2 to 4 MPICL tearing had significantly lower net scores than those with grade 1 or no tearing. The severity of subchondral bone damage was the only variable on its own that was significantly correlated with net score (r 2 = 0.23, P<0.05). The addition of the grade of MPICL tearing to bone damage significantly improved the prediction of postoperative performance (P < 0.05). The inclusion of articular cartilage damage had no effect on the prediction of postoperative performance. Conclusion Tears involving more than one third of the MPICL as observed arthroscopically have a significant detrimental affect on postoperative performance of racing horses.