Treatment With Therapeutic Bandages to Control Equine Postarthroscopic Tibio-Patellofemoral Swelling

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapeutic bandages, the Kinesio Taping Method (KTM), in controlling swelling following arthroscopic tibio-patellofemoral surgery in horses. In vivo experimental study was studied. Twelve horses undergoing experimental tibio-patellofemoral arthroscopy were divided into two groups: six animals in the control group (CG) (without tape) and six animals in the treatment group (TG) that received therapeutic bandages based on the KTM. All of the horses were evaluated by thermography of the lateral and cranial aspect of the joint as well as by a perimeter assessment of the tibio-patellofemoral joint. The TG showed greater control of postoperative swelling with a significant reduction in swelling after 24 hours of treatment compared to the CG staying up to 72 hours, but there were no significant differences in temperature based on the thermography. In this study, which was unprecedented in horses, the use of therapeutic bandages resulted in a significant reduction in postoperative swelling of tibio-patellofemoral arthroscopy in horses compared with CG. Although often employed in human rehabilitation, this therapy is potentially beneficial for veterinary rehabilitation, specifically in horses.     

Computed tomographic arthrography is a useful adjunct to survey computed tomography and arthroscopic evaluation of the canine shoulder joint

The aim of this retrospective, methods comparison study was to assess the diagnostic utility of computed tomographic arthrography in the assessment of various intraarticular shoulder pathologies in dogs in comparison with survey computed tomography (CT), using arthroscopic examination as the reference standard. Computed tomography, computed tomographic arthrography, and arthroscopic findings of 46 scapulohumeral joints of dogs with forelimb lameness were reviewed retrospectively. Predefined sites were assessed for the presence or absence of disease. If a lesion was present, a prespecified pathology was designated. Computed tomographic arthrography was found to be a safe technique which provided a superior diagnostic efficacy relative to survey CT for the assessment of the biceps tendon and biceps tendon sheath (sensitivity 71%, specificity 75%, positive likelihood ratio 2.9, negative likelihood ratio 0.38) and humeral head cartilage (sensitivity 65%, specificity 97%, positive likelihood ratio 19, negative likelihood ratio 0.37). Computed tomography and computed tomographic arthrography provided additional diagnostic information to arthroscopy in regard to osteophytosis, subchondral defects, and joint mice. Computed tomographic arthrography alone was of limited diagnostic value for assessment of the medial and lateral glenohumeral ligaments (sensitivity 13% and 0%, specificity 1% and 78%, positive likelihood ratios unmeasurable and 0, negative likelihood ratios 0.88 and 1.29, respectively) and the subscapularis tendon (sensitivity 14%, specificity 98%, positive likelihood ratio 5.7, negative likelihood ratio 0.88). Computed tomographic arthrography is therefore a useful adjunct to survey CT and arthroscopic evaluation of the canine shoulder joint, however, is not a replacement for these techniques.     

Application of optical coherence tomography enhances reproducibility of arthroscopic evaluation of equine joints

Background

Arthroscopy is widely used in various equine joints for diagnostic and surgical purposes. However, accuracy of defining the extent of cartilage lesions and reproducibility in grading of lesions are not optimal. Therefore, there is a need for new, more quantitative arthroscopic methods. Arthroscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is a promising tool introduced for quantitative detection of cartilage degeneration and scoring of the severity of chondral lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-investigator agreement and inter-method agreement in grading cartilage lesions by means of conventional arthroscopy and with OCT technique. For this aim, 41 cartilage lesions based on findings in conventional and OCT arthroscopy in 14 equine joints were imaged, blind coded and independently ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) scored by three surgeons and one PhD-student.

Results

The intra- and inter-investigator percentages of agreement by means of OCT (68.9% and 43.9%, respectively) were higher than those based on conventional arthroscopic imaging (56.7% and 31.7%, respectively). The intra-investigator Kappa coefficients were 0.709 and 0.565 for OCT and arthroscopy, respectively. Inter-investigator Kappa coefficients were 0.538 and 0.408 for OCT and arthroscopy, respectively.

Conclusions

OCT can enhance reproducibility of arthroscopic evaluation of equine joints.