Arthroscopic Surgery of the Middle Carpal Joint in Trotting Standardbreds: Findings and Outcome

Objectives: To describe the injuries in the middle carpal joint of trotting Standardbred racehorses in relation to future racing and to review the use of synovectomy in clinical cases.

Methods: Review of medical records and racing statistics of clinical cases.

Results: Sixty-six percent of horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery of the middle carpal joints returned to racing, but there were only weak associations between future racing success and findings at surgery. Lesions in the middle carpal joint were similar to what have previously been described, but there were no recorded injuries to the intermediate carpal bone in the horses in this sample population.

Clinical Relevance: Making an accurate prognosis for return to racing based on the findings in the middle carpal joint at the time of surgery appears to be difficult.