Arthroscopic autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty for the treatment of subchondral cystic lesion in the medial femoral condyle in a horse

An 11-year-old, Hungarian half-bred stallion was presented with a history o f mixed left hindlimb lameness of 6 months duration. Subchondral bone cyst of the medial femoral condyle and injury of the medial meniscus were diagno sed. Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was perf ormed, taking grafts from the less weight-bearing medial border of the medi al femoral trochlea of the affected limb, and transplanting them into the c yst during arthroscopy. The lameness was evaluated prior to and one year af ter the operation with a motion analysis system during treadmill exercise. Considerable improvement of the lameness and the clinical signs as well as successful transplantation of the grafts, and a new hard joint cartilage su rface of the medial femoral condyle could be detected during follow-up arth roscopy. Osteochondral autograft transplantation seems to bee a possible al ternative for treating subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral con dyle in horses. A new technique for the surgical treatment of a subchondral cystic lesion of the medial femoral condyle in the horse is described.