Veterinary Surgery Deep Dive: Equine Ortho Part 2 — August 2025 Edition

In this Simini Equine Surgery Podcast episode, we unpack two orthopedic studies from the August 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery. These papers tackle both surgical mapping and cartilage regeneration—bringing fresh insights for accessing difficult anatomy and improving outcomes in mature horses.

We cover:

✅ Kerber et al. — A cadaveric study mapping the medial digital flexor tendon sheath (MDFTS) and evaluating the feasibility of needle endoscopy. Using a 2.4 mm needle scope and a two-portal technique, they successfully navigated this complex space and revealed multiple internal synovial folds that trap debris and resist clearance. Standard arthroscopy was not feasible, often causing iatrogenic damage, and conventional saline lavage left up to 42% of bacteria behind, underscoring the need for targeted lavage solutions like Simini Protect.

✅ Paul et al. — A 25-year retrospective on mosaic arthroplasty for treating subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) in the equine stifle and fetlock. With 68% return to work and 90% lameness improvement, the study breaks the age barrier—showing strong outcomes even in horses over 3 years old. Fewer, larger grafts led to better outcomes (90% success with 2 or fewer vs. 50% with 3+), and overdrilling proud grafts was emphasized to prevent damage.

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Kerber et al. — Gross anatomy, computed tomographic contrast
  tenography, and needle endoscopy of the equine
  medial digital flexor tendon sheath
• Paul et al. — Mosaic arthroplasty in equine stifle and fetlock joints:
  A retrospective study of 31 cases between 1998 and 2023
  📚 From the August 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery

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