The persistence of TGF-beta(1) expression in leg wounds may be related to the development of exuberant granulation tissue in this location, because TGF-beta(1) is profibrotic.

This study suggests that the production of EGT in bandaged wounds may be related to increased expression of fibrogenic TGF-beta1 and decreased expression of antifibrotic TGF-beta3. Further investigation of the roles of TGF-beta1 and -beta3 may be important in understanding the molecular control of EGT in horses.

Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint was used to treat lameness resulting from osteoarthrosis and for closed subluxation in 35 horses. Six horses had bilateral arthrodeses. Several conventional internal fixation techniques and a three converging screw method were used. Criteria for success included the horse performing its previous or intended athletic activity and the owner being satisfied with the outcome. Using these criteria, a successful outcome was obtained in 65% of the 26 animals in which adequate follow-up was available. A successful outcome was observed in four of six horses with bilateral arthrodeses. The internal fixation technique used did not influence the success rate, and the duration of postoperative casting was similar in successful and unsuccessful cases. The success rate of proximal interphalangeal arthrodeses was 46% in the fore limbs and 83% in the hind limbs. Complications included infection, cast ulcers, bone or implant failure, implant loosening, and laminitis.

Summary Post operative surgical wound infection rates were determined for 452 cases of equine orthopaedic surgery performed at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, between January 1, 1981 and December 31, 1990. Only surgical procedures classified as clean or clean‐contaminated by the National Research Council were included in this study. The overall post operative infection rate was 10.0% (45 of 452). Clean surgeries (n=433) had an 8.1% infection rate while clean‐contaminated surgeries (n=19) had a 52.6% infection rate. Information collected from the medical records was used in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate significant determinates of post operative infection. Significant determinates of post operative infection were: surgical classification, orthopaedic involvement, duration of surgery, administration of preoperative antibiotics and gender. Clean‐contaminated surgeries had an increased risk of infection compared to clean surgeries (odds ratio (OR)=24.3), procedures involving long bones had an increased risk of infection compared to procedures involving articular surfaces (OR =5.1), surgeries lasting 90 minutes or longer had an increased risk of infection compared to those less than 90 minutes (OR =3.6), administration of preoperative antibiotics was associated with an increased risk of infection (OR =4.6) and female patients were 2.6 times more likely to develop post operative infection than male patients.

Arthrodesis of the CMC joint should be considered a treatment option for CMC-OA.

Overall occurrence of incisional herniation after closure of ventral celiotomies with 7PD was low.

Arthrodesis created by destruction of the articular surfaces of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints by repeated insertion of a drill was studied in one limb of each of nine horses. Postoperatively, the horses were housed in box stalls for 8 weeks and then confined to a paddock for 19 weeks. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed prior to surgery, immediately following surgery, and at 2,4, 6, 8,10,12,16, 20, and 27 weeks following surgery. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between decreasing degree of lameness and increasing radiographic evidence of bony fusion; fusion of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints was present in five horses 27 weeks after surgery. The horses lost weight during the first 8 weeks after surgery. Flexion of the treated tarsal joints was decreased significantly at the end of the experiment. Complications encountered included fracture of the third tarsal bone (five horses), instability of the tarsus (four horses), septic arthritis (three horses), and diarrhea (four horses). Arthrodesis, with this method of surgical drilling of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints, is not recommended because of severe pain, prolonged convalescence, and high incidence of complications.

The reparative ability of equine synovium was determined by gross, histological, and ultrastructural examination. The functional potential of the synovium was estimated by examination of synovial cell organelles with transmission electron microscopy. Results from rested and exercised horses were compared to determine the effect of exercise on synovial healing. The response of synovectomized joint to exercise was evaluated with a standardized lameness examination and by gross, histological, and histochemical observations of the articular cartilage. A 7-mm diameter motorized synovial resector was used to perform a subtotal synovectomy in 1 antebrachiocarpal joint of each of 8 horses; the contralateral joint served as a control. After 2 months rest, four randomly selected horses were rigorously exercised for the remainder of the study; the other four horses continued paddock rest. Lameness examinations and synovial fluid analyses were conducted at 0, 2, 30, 60, and 120 days. Synovium and articular cartilage from all horses were examined at necropsy at 120 days. None of the horses were lame during the study, and transient synovitis occurred in the synovectomized joints. The hyaluronan concentration of treated joints decreased at 2 days but returned to normal by 60 days. Synovial fluid composition, including hyaluronan concentration, was unchanged by exercise. Significant cartilage damage was not observed in any of the joints. At 120 days, the healing synovium was devoid of villi and its subintima was fibrotic, however transmission electron microscopy confirmed that an intimal layer was present within the repair tissue. The cells within the repair tissue appeared actively engaged in both synthesis and phagocytosis. Exercise did not modify any of these findings. The results of this study suggest that 120 days after subtotal synovectomy, the joint environment was maintained and and the resected synovium had evidence of restoration and increased metabolic potential. Synovectomized joints withstood exercise but synovial repair was not accelerated by exercise.