In cases where horses suffer from such severe joint damage and osteoarthritis that joint infiltrations no longer help, surgical arthrodesis may be considered. This technique aims to fuse the painful joint, thus eliminating the pain associated with osteoarthritis. In this technique, the remaining joint cartilage is removed to accelerate fusion between the adjacent bones. For this purpose, the joint is also fixed in most cases with one or more plates and screws.
For joints that naturally have little or no movement ('low motion joints'), horses can even return to sporting activities. This particularly applies to the crown joint and the hock joints. The prognosis will depend on the age, weight, and temperament of the horse.
In addition to the crown joint (plate and screws) and the hock (drilling out of the hock joints), the pasterns, carpus, shoulder, and neck are also suitable for arthrodesis. In the case of the pasterns, shoulder, and carpus, this naturally has an impact on the mobility of the joint and the operation is intended for pain relief for pasture or breeding horses.