EN
A throughpatellar arthrotomy was performed in four horses, three experimental and one clinical case. The purpose of the studies was to asses the possibility of dividing the patella and the quality of healing process occurring. The patella was divided along the axis of the middle patellar ligament and later stabilised with an orthopaedic Wire (1 case) or cancellous screws (3 cases). Two horses (50',/o) had a local postoperative complication which necessited a humane destruction while two horses (50°/o) re- tourned to normal life. According to the author from a mechanical point of view the most advantageous approach would be to incise the stifle along the axis of the static and dynamic forces acting from the quadriceps muscle. This approach should enable the widest access to the femoro-patellar joint and sucessful healing. The efficacy was 100"Vo in all cases which were fixed with cancellous screws. The reported approach is more advana- geous than cranio-lateral and lateral tecause provide adequate exposure of the whole articular surface of the trochlea and of the patella. The signs of the secondary degenerative joint disease were not found histologically in both operated with good result horses.