Treatment of bone spavin by arthrodesis of the distal tarsaljoints - long time results

The results of 32 individual cases examined for arthrodesis of the distal tarsaljoints, there particular attention will be paid to the course of the period of reconvalescense. The results of the examination of lameness; the diagnostic nerve blocks, the x-ray examination and the scintigraphic examination will be presented and discussed. Analysing the aftercare examinations it clearly shows that the degree of lameness is relatively quickly reduced (6-9 month post op 93,7% of the successfully treated patients without lameness) in comparison after this period of time the spavin test is only negative in 31,3% of the patients. The period of reconvalescence comes to 7,3 month for all of the patients, for crossbreeds 8 months, for smaller horses 5,3 months. The period of reconvalescence is defined as the period from beginning of the treatment (op) until the point of the horse being able to perform as good as before thc disease. Out of 32 patients 26 have been treated successfully with the arthrodesis (81,25%), 6 horses (18,75%) could not be cured