title: Evaluation of a Permanent Synthetic Osteochondral Implant in the Equine Medial Femoral Condyle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate bone ingrowth, integration, and tolerance of a synthetic osteochondral implant in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of normal horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult horses (n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses were anesthetized and bilateral femorotibial arthrotomies were performed for placement of 1 implant consisting of polycarbonate urethane with a titanium base in 1 MFC. The contralateral MFC served as a sham-operated control without reaming of cartilage or subchondral bone. Lameness evaluations and radiographs were performed pre-operatively with subsequent monthly lameness exams and radiographs at 6 months. Synovial fluid was collected for analysis from the adjacent femoropatellar joints pre-operatively and at several intervals post-operatively. Horses were euthanatized 6 months post-operatively. Stifles were harvested for gross and histologic evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two horses were never lame, 2 were mildly lame, and 1 exhibited moderate lameness. Synovial fluid inflammatory parameters of the adjacent femoropatellar joints were not significantly different. No significant changes occurred radiographically over time in either stifle. Histologic assessment of synovium from the medial femorotibial joint revealed no differences in inflammatory changes between implant and sham stifles. Integration and osteoconductivity of the implant were graded as good in 4 and 3 of 5 specimens, respectively. Complications included joint sepsis resulting in euthanasia (1 horse), persistent lameness (1 horse), incisional seromas (4 horses), and incisional dehiscence (2 horses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this pilot study indicate that the implant was compatible with placement in the MFC of normal horses. Implant design allowed bone ingrowth within the titanium base and provision of a synthetic articular surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
authors.forename: Kirsty A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Shannon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Natalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hoepp
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory and Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000662:veterinary*; D013264:Stifle / Q000601:surgery*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D014025:Titanium