Electrosurgical Arthrotomy and Excision of Soft Tissue Masses in the Metacarpophalangeal Joint of the Horse

Electrosurgical arthrotomy and excision of infra‐articular soft tissue masses from the metacarpophalangeal joint was performed in 12 horses. In six of the 12 horses, osteochondral fragments from the dorsoproximal aspects of the first phalanx were also removed. The electrosurgical scalpel afforded excellent intraoperative efficacy for arthrotomy and relatively bloodless excision of soft tissue masses without the need for a tourniquet. There were no complications associated with healing in 11 of the 12 horses. A retraction technique that used careful positioning of a Langenbeck periosteal elevator relative to the collateral ligaments provided access to both medial and lateral margins of intra‐articular masses. With this technique, all masses could be removed through one central arthrotomy incision.