Arthroscopic findings and long‐term outcomes in 76 sport horses with meniscal injuries (2008–2018)

Objective To report the findings and long‐term outcome of 76 sport horses with meniscal injury. Study design Retrospective case series. Animals Seventy‐six horses with 93 meniscal injuries in 85 stifles. Methods Medical records of sport horses diagnosed with meniscal injury during arthroscopy were reviewed. Owner follow up was obtained via telephone interview ≥1.5 years postoperatively. Preoperative and intraoperative findings, and postoperative treatments, were analyzed for potential association with return to athletic performance. Results The medial meniscus was involved in 82.8% of cases, with grade 1 injuries diagnosed in 76.3% of menisci. Overall, 85.5% of horses returned to athletic performance, with 40% returning to their previous level. The grade of meniscal injury was associated with long‐term outcome (P = .023). The presence of preoperative radiographic abnormalities (P = .259) or additional joint pathology (P = 1.00) was not associated with long‐term outcomes. Fifty‐nine stifles were treated with an orthobiologic: autologous conditioned serum, platelet‐rich plasma, or marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells. There was no association between the use of any orthobiologic and long‐term outcome (P = .394). Conclusion This is the first report on long‐term outcome of sport horses with meniscal injuries following arthroscopic surgery. Overall, the long‐term prognosis was fair, with 40% of horses returning to their previous level of use. Severity of the meniscal injury was a prognostic indicator for return to work. The presence of radiographic abnormalities or additional joint pathology, or the use of orthobiologics, was not associated with long‐term outcome. Clinical significance These findings can help in prognostication for sport horses with meniscal injuries.