What Is It and How Can It Help My Horse?

Arthroscopy means scoping or looking into a joint by means of a miniature telescope called an Arthroscope. Arthroscopy allows the joint to be fully evaluated.

Upgraded Arthroscopy Equipment

Advanced equipment such as an arthroscopic 3 chip camera/monitor, a fluid pump and a c mount arthroscope enables us to do arthroscopic surgery in almost every joint of the horse. Joints that Dr. Kleider routinely does include the knee, fetlock, hock, stifle and even tight joints such as the coffin and pastern!

Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3	Figure 4

As surgery is performed it will be viewed on this monitor (figure 1). This close up photo shows the waterproof sterile camera attached to the viewing lens of the arthroscope (figure 2). A much enlarged image appears on the monitor as Dr. Kleider performs the operation. Using the TV screen to monitor the operation offers advantages over the viewing it through the lens (figure 3).Arthroscopic surgery is being used here to remove bone chips from the knee of a Thoroughbred mare. It is far less invasive than conventional surgery as the incision is minimal.
(figure 4).

The surgery is done while viewing the monitor since a waterproof sterile camera is attached to the viewing lens of the arthroscope. Surgery of an area such as the stifle is difficult when viewing with only one's eye looking through the scope because the scope is inserted parallel to the limb, leaving little room for one's head. The camera also decreases chance of infection since the surgeon's head is not over the top of the surgical site.

Arthroscopic surgeries for osteochondrosisn(OCD) of the stifle and hock are now routine!

Osteochondrosis (OCD) is a joint problem usually seen in young horses at any stage of development but frequently when they start training. It is a condition that results from improper development of cartilage into bone.

A motorized arthroscopy shaver system, an advanced technology that works inside the fluid medium of the joint, allowing us to grind and smooth out any remaining rough surfaces left after the major pieces have been removed with forceps. It is also used for synovectomies in infected joints and for tendon/ligament surgery. We are proud to be helping more horses with OCD lead full and productive lives.

Radio in Arthroscopy

Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Apical sesamoid fractures and fragments lodged at the back of the fetlock (proximal P1 axial ocd fragments) are difficult to remove because extensive dissection is necessary( figure 1). Dr. Kleider uses radio surgery with special arthroscopic probes to neatly dissect away all soft tissue attachments. This decreases anaesthetic time and soft tissue trauma (figure 2).

All surgeries are presently being recorded on DVD for the horse owner's viewing pleasure. We find that reviewing the surgery gives the owner an appreciation of any pathology. Fluoroscopic confirmation of complete fragment removal (figure 3)