Surgical approach for medial meniscectomy in the horse.

After preliminary studies on cadavers, a surgical approach was developed for removal of the medial meniscus, offering maximal exposure and minimal trauma to the articular surfaces of the medial tibial plateau and femoral condyle. Medial meniscectomy was then performed on 10 clinically normal horses that had been given general anesthesia. Nine horses were euthanatized at intervals of 1 to 6 months, and the joints were evaluated grossly and histologically. (One horse will be examined 1 year after surgery). Medial meniscus tears were diagnosed in 5 horses; medial meniscectomy was done on 4 horses and 1 horse was rested. Removal of the medial meniscus was considered feasible in the horse, but the resulting degree of locomotor impairment varies. Prognosis for surgical removal of the medial meniscus was considered to be guarded to good.