Effect of central or marginal location and post-operative exercise on the healing of osteochondral defects in the equine carpus

Abstract

The effects of osteochondral defect location and post-operative walking exercise on structural repair and recovery of joint function were examined in the midcarpal joints of ponies. Functional recovery was monitored by measuring ground reaction forces using a force plate. Structural repair was evaluated histologically and by measuring the total collagen and uronic acid content and relative proportions of Type I and II collagen in the repair tissue. Central defects tended to cause a more marked functional disturbance but were repaired with fibrocartilage rather than fibrous tissue in 3 out of 6 ponies while marginal defects were repaired almost exclusively with fibrous tissue. There was no significant difference between defect locations with regard to the biochemical measures evaluated. Exercise produced no beneficial effect on structural repair of the defects. Secondary 'kissing' lesions in the third carpal bones opposite the defects appeared grossly more severe in the exercised ponies which also showed a trend to more marked functional disturbance.