Learn how veterinarians are using recent research in their day-to-day practice to diagnose PPID, EMS, and ID.

Webcast | What To Do When Your Horse Has a Fever

Infographic | Optimizing Air Quality in Your Horse Barn

Infographic | How To Protect Your IBH Horse From Bugs

The Horse’s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event.

Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky

Horses for Sale and Adoption

Problem Solver Series: How to Control Nuisance Birds on Horse Properties

Upward fixation of the patella resolved in 97% of horses undergoing a medial patellar ligament splitting procedure.

Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Jan 13, 2016 | Article, Hindlimb, Muscle and Joint Problems, Musculoskeletal System, Recovering from Injury & Surgery, Surgical Techniques, Veterinary Practice

When a horse’s patella locks up, owners can hope for a resolution through conservative treatments such as increased exercise, corrective farriery, intraligamentary injections, and even acupuncture. But when those treatments fail, you might want to turn to surgery, suggest scientists in Denmark.

The standard surgical treatment for upward fixation of the patella (UFP) used to be a procedure known as medial patellar ligament desmotomy (in which the surgeon cuts the ligament to release the locked patella). But it comes with its own set of post-surgical complications, and not all owners are satisfied with the results.

Fortunately, a less invasive procedure called medial patellar ligament splitting (MPLS) has been showing good outcomes, and Aziz Tnibar, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS, and colleagues recently completed a long-term follow-up evaluating treated horses. The long-term results, according to the research team, are very positive, with a 97.6% success rate.

“This procedure is currently the best surgical treatment for this condition,” said Tnibar, a specialist in equine surgery at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of the University of Copenhagen, in Taastrup.

During an MPLS procedure, the surgeon inserts a blade or needle (sometimes guided by ultrasound) through the skin to split the proximal (inner) third part of the medial patellar ligament—often with the horse standing sedated.

In their review of 85 horses undergoing MPLS between 1999 and 2013, Tnibar and his fellow researchers were able to follo

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com. Start your free account today!

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master's degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress

You need to be logged in to fill out this form