The smaller grafts were fragile and the bony portion of the graft healed poorly. Larger grafts were easier to position to reconstruct complex, curved contours. We must exactly match the levels of graft and host cartilage, otherwise mechanical damage and loosening of the graft result. The greatest advantage of mosaic arthroplasty for horses is that the entire procedure can be done arthroscopically with out the need for a large incision. As a result, previously untreatable injuries in the carpus, fetlock, hock and stifle are now potentially treatable.
Some investigations involving allografts are also underway.
Allografts, taken from another recently euthanatized or slaughtered horse, have the advantage of being an exact match for the damaged site, but do have the potential complication of immune rejection. Preliminary results in the equine carpal joint are encouraging and, like Dr. Miniaci, we are offering mosaic arthroplasty to carefully selected patients in our surgical practice. The people and horses that are most likely to benefit are those with small, focal, joint cartilage injuries. Patients with chronic, longstanding injuries, osteoarthritis and unstable joints are unsuitable candidates for this technique. Horses with small focal injuries are the most suitable candidates for mosaic arthroplasty, a grafting technique proving useful in halting debilitating joint disease.