EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MEDIAL PATELLAR DESMOTOMY ON FEMOROPATELLAR JOINTS IN NORMAL DONKEYS

Medial patellar desmotomy was performed on one (treated) hindlimb and
operation on the other (control) hindlimb, of six normal donkeys. a sham The donkeys were examined for lameness before media! patellar desmotomy and at months 1, 2 and 3. The femoro patellar joints were examined radio
graphically at month 3. Post-mortem examination of the femoropatellar joints was performed immediately after euthanasia at month 3. All donkeys were lame on the treated limb at months 1, 2 or 3. Radiographic changes, inculding fragments formation at the distal aspect of the patella and bone production at the attachment of the middle patellar ligament on the patella, were present in 5 donkeys at month 3. Postmortem examination revealed articular cartilage fibrillation or detachment on the patellas of all treated limbs. The control limbs were clinically and radiographically normal through out the study. Postmortem examination of the control limbs revealed no pathological changes on the patellas of all animals. Medial p < strong>atellar desmot omy results in pathological changes in the articular cartilage of the patella and adjacent soft tissues. Use of this surgical procedure should be reserved for persistent and confirmed cases of upward fixation of the patella.