Qualitative and quantitative documentation of the racing performance of 461 Thoroughbred racehorses after arthroscopic removal of dorsoproximal firstphalanx osteochondral fractures (1986-1995)

The purpose of this study was to examine the longevity of postoperative car eers and quality of performance of 461 Thoroughbred racehorses after arthro scopic removal of dorsoproximal first phalanx (P1) osteochondral fractures. Six hundred and 59 dorsoproximal P1 chip fractures were removed arthroscop ically from 574 joints in 461 horses presented for lameness or decreased pe rformance attributed to the chip fractures. Radiological and arthroscopic e xamination revealed an average of 1.43 fragment sites/horse, 1.15 fragment sites/joint and 1.25 affected joints/horse. Eighty-nine percent of the hors es (411/461) raced after surgery and 82% (377/461) did so at the same or hi gher class. Fifty horses did not race after surgery. Sixty-eight percent of the horses raced in a Stake or Allowance race postoperatively. Data, previ ously undocumented, establishes that the quantity and quality of performanc e is not diminished after arthroscopic treatment of dorsoproximal P1 fragme ntation. Surgical removal of chip fractures is a means of preserving the ec onomic value of an injured Thoroughbred, allowing a rapid and successful re turn to racing at the previous level of racing performance.