TREATMENT FOR UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA IN THE HORSE BY MEDIAL PATELLAR DESMOTOMY - INDICATIONS AND COMPLICATIONS

Medial patellar desmotomy has gained widespread use in the treatment o f the condition of upward fixation of the patella in horses. Recent ob servations, however, show that this technique is not a totally innocuo us procedure. It is therefore important that sufficient postoperative rest is allowed to accommodate the femoropatellar joint to the loss of medial patellar ligament function, and stable rest with daily hand-wa lking exercise for 3 to 5 months has been advocated.