In the human and equine species, different kinds of free floating intra-articular particles are related to certain disorders. Osteochondral fragments formed during osteochondrosis dissecans are the most common finding in the equine species, whereas in humans rice bodies due to rheumatoid arthritis are more frequent. Herein we report a third type of floating body inside the stifle of an adult draught horse stallion, in macroscopic appearance similar to articular rice bodies known in humans. As revealed by histologic examination, the two particles consist of polypoid degenerated structures derived from synovial villi. Their formation was probably induced by ischemia.
Animals ; Histocytochemistry/veterinary ; Horse Diseases/*pathology ; Horses ; Joint Loose Bodies/pathology/*veterinary ; Male ; Stifle/*pathology ; Synovial Membrane/*pathology

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a joint distractor in arthroscopy in small-breed dogs. Sixty stifle joints, which were collected from thirty cadavers, were used in this study. To simulate different injuries, no medial meniscal tear, a full-thickness vertical longitudinal tear, a partial-thickness vertical longitudinal tear, full- and partial-thickness vertical longitudinal tears, or a peripheral detachment were created on the caudal horn of the medial meniscus of each stifle joint along with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Each stifle joint then underwent arthroscopy with and without a joint distractor. The sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and correct classification rate (CCR) for the diagnosis of each type of medial meniscus pathology were calculated. For arthroscopy with and without a joint distractor, the Sn was 85% and 60%, the Sp was 96% and 92%, the PPV was 85% and 65%, the NPV was 96% and 90%, and the CCR was 94% and 86%, respectively. Arthroscopy is an effective diagnostic method for the assessment of medial meniscal pathologies in small-breed dogs, especially when performed with the aid of a joint distractor.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Cadaver ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Dogs* ; Horns ; Joints* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Methods ; Pathology ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stifle ; Tears

Arthroscopy has become an attractive modality in the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases in toy breed dogs. However, the application of arthroscopy is limited by small joint space. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a stifle lever for joint distraction during stifle arthroscopy in toy breed dogs. Paired stifles (n = 32 each) collected from 16 cadavers of toy breed dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the stifle lever group or the external manipulation group. All stifles underwent arthroscopic cranial cruciate ligament transection, and the visualization of the medial meniscus was evaluated. Medial meniscal release (MMR) was then performed. Following arthroscopic examination, the success rates of MMR and damages of tibial and femoral cartilages were evaluated. Visualization of the medial meniscus was significantly better, and meniscal probing was significantly easier, in the stifle lever group than in the external manipulation group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups for MMR success or articular cartilage damage. Using the stifle lever on arthroscopic examination improved visualization and probing on the medial meniscus in toy breed dogs. The stifle lever can be used as a good modality in assessing medial meniscal pathology in toy breed dogs.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Menisci, Tibial ; Pathology ; Play and Playthings ; Stifle