Stifle lameness in the horse: A survey of 86 referred cases

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Abstract
The clinical and radiological characteristics of stifle lameness in 86 horses are described. The majority of these cases were lame for some weeks before referral. The most frequent diagnoses made were osteochondrosis dissecans (13%) and subchondral bone cyst (38%). Both of these conditions were seen principally in Thoroughbreds at or before the onset of traning. The other bone lesions encountered were osteoarthritis (3%), fractures (4%) and epiphysitis (1%). The commonest soft tissue condition was an atypical or partial unward fixation of the patella (15%), ligamentous/meniscal damage comprised 12% of the cases and the remaining 13% were attributed to nonspecific strain of the stifle joint. Treatment in most of these chronic stifle injuries consisted of a period of rest followed by a gradual return to exercise; in some cases this was combined with a short course of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The prognosis in most cases of osteochondrosis dissecans was grave to hopeless, while the majority of the horses with a subchondral bone cyst improved clinically after an extended period rest (6 mo.). Ligamentous/meniscal damage usually responded satisfactorily to rest, provided there was no gross tearing or rupture of the structures involved. The outcome in cases of chronic osteoarthritis was always poor and these cases did not respond satisfactorily to analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication.