title: Ex vivo evaluation of carpal flexion after partial carpal arthrodesis in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine degrees of flexion after arthrodesis of the antebrachiocarpal (ABC) joint, middle carpal (MC), and carpometacarpal (CMC) joints combined (MC/CMC), and carpometacarpal (CMC) joint alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ex vivo study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forelimbs (n = 9) from 2- to 10-year-old Quarter Horses (5), Thoroughbred (2), and American Paint Horse (2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using 2 locking compression plates, 3 partial carpal arthrodesis techniques were performed. Cables and deadweights were connected to limbs and each angle of flexion determined 3 times using a protractor and then averaged. Control measurements were obtained before and after arthrodesis, the techniques randomized with Latin square design. Descriptive data were analyzed with Levene's test, Q-Q plots, ANOVA, and Bonferroni test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD carpal flexion results were: controls 150° ± 8°, CMC arthrodesis 149° ± 9°, MC/CMC arthrodesis 43° ± 7.6°, and ABC arthrodesis 25° ± 6.3°. There was no significant reduction in flexion after a CMC arthrodesis compared with controls (P = .21), but there was after ABC (P < .001) and MC/CMC arthrodesis (P < .001), with the ABC arthrodesis significantly reduced compared with an MC/CMC arthrodesis (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas CMC arthrodesis does not affect carpal flexion, CMC/MC and ABC arthrodesis markedly reduce the degree of carpal flexion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Patty J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tulloch
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Spencer M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Candace L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gellert
authors.forename: Hayley M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panizzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000662:veterinary*; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D002102:Cadaver; D002350:Carpus, Animal / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005552:Forelimb; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000662:veterinary; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular