Endoscopic surgery

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The overall rate of sepsis following endoscopic surgery of synovial structures has not previously been documented. Clinical observation has led to the conjecture that tendon sheaths, in particular the carpal flexor tendon sheath, are more prone to post operative synovial sepsis than other synovial structures.

OBJECTIVES: To document and investigate the rate of post operative synovial sepsis following elective endoscopic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an alternative technique and resulting outcomes for arthroscopic removal of osteochondral (OC) fragments from the proximal intertarsal joint (PIJ) using a direct approach without resection of the membrane between the tarsocrural joint (TCJ) and the PIJ.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS: Client owned horses (n = 11) with Category 1 OC fragments in the PIJ.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intra and postoperative clinical features of desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (ALSDFT) using the Saber radiofrequency (SaberRF) electrosurgical probe versus sharp transection with a tenotomy knife.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, blocked (horse) design.

ANIMALS: Adult horses (n = 6).

Reasons for performing study To determine risk factors involved in survival to hospital discharge of cases of synovial sepsis. Objectives Investigate pre-, intra- and post operative factors involved in short-term survival of horses undergoing endoscopic treatment for synovial sepsis. Study design Retrospective case series. Methods Clinical data were obtained for horses (>6 months old) undergoing endoscopic surgery as part of management for synovial sepsis over a 7-year period in a single hospital population. Descriptive data were generated for pre-, intra- and post operative variables.