Postoperative racing performance in standardbreds and thoroughbreds with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint: 109 cases (1984-1990)
Beard, W.L.; Bramlage, L.R.; Schneider, R.K.; Embertson, R.M.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 204(10): 1655-1659
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 8050949 Document Number: 428121
Records of 64 Thoroughbreds and 45 Standardbreds with osteochondrosis dissecans of the tarsal joint and that had osteochondral fragments removed by means of arthroscopic surgery before 2 years of age were reviewed. Affected horses were compared with their siblings. For the Standardbreds, 22% of affected horses raced as 2 year olds and 43% raced as 3 year olds, compared with 42 and 50% of their siblings that raced as 2 and 3 year olds, respectively. For the Thoroughbreds, 43% raced as 2 year olds and 78% raced as 3 year olds, compared with 48 and 73% of their siblings that raced as 2 and 3 year olds, respectively. Median earnings were lower for affected than for sibling horses for both breeds and both age groups, and median number of starts was lower for affected than for sibling horses for all groups except 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Among affected horses, neither lesion location nor unilateral vs bilateral involvement was associated with ability to start at least 1 race.