Surgical treatment of a synovial hernia of the tibiotarsal joint in a horse

This case report describes the treatment of a large hernia of the tibiotars al joint in a horse. A fluctuant swelling on the lateral aspect of the tars us had suddenly appeared and it gradually increased to reach a diameter of 12 cm and a thickness of 6 cm. There was pronounced synovial effusion of th e tibiotarsal joint, but none of the swellings was painful. The horse was n ot lame. During a diagnostic arthroscopy, an opening of 1 by 2.5 cm could b e detected on the lateral aspect of the joint capsule. Surgical correction with resection of the hernial sac and closure of the defect in the fibrous joint capsule were performed. In the postsurgical period, the effusion of t he joint and swelling of the periarticular structures gradually diminished resulting in a clinically normal tarsus. Synovial hernias are relatively un common in the horse and have not been described in this location. They shou ld mainly be differentiated from a joint ganglion, a haematoma and an acqui red bursitis at the level of the joint. This case report illustrates that, even for very large joint hernias, the prognosis after surgical correction is good.