Outcome of arthroscopic debridement of cartilage injury in the equine distal interphalangeal joint.

The purpose of this study was to report long-term outcome following arthroscopic debridement of articular cartilage lesions of the distal interphalangeal joint, diagnosed with high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnosis was based on the results of diagnostic anesthesia, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthroscopy. Ten horses underwent arthroscopic evaluation for cartilage injury and received various intra-articular therapies after surgery. Three of ten horses had lesions that were surgically inaccessible. Four horses became sound and returned to their preoperative level of athleticism, and 1 horse returned to performance with continued intermittent lameness. None of the horses with an inaccessible lesion achieved soundness. Duration of lameness before surgery, preoperative evidence of degenerative joint disease, and surgical accessibility of cartilage injury did not exhibit clear influence on outcome. As a primary cause of lameness, articular cartilage injury of the distal interphalangeal joint carries a guarded prognosis for soundness with surgical therapy.