Association between clinical signs and histopathologic changes in the synovium of the tarsocrural joint of horses with osteochondritis dissecans of the tibia.
Abstract: To develop a scoring system for histopathologic changes in the synovium of tarsocrural joints (TCJs) of horses with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and to test for association between histopathologic changes and joint effusion or lameness. Methods: 93 horses with OCD of the intermediate ridge of the tibia of 1 or both TCJs (134 joints) and 38 control horses without disease of TCJs (38 joints). Methods: For OCD-affected horses, pretreatment lameness, TCJ effusion, and results of pelvic limb flexion test were scored. Synovial biopsy specimens were obtained from TCJs of OCD-affected horses during arthroscopy, and similar postmortem tissue specimens were obtained from control horses through a small arthrotomy. Histologic signs of synovitis in 172 biopsy specimens were scored by 2 pathologists (A and B) by use of 2 criteria: synoviocyte proliferation and cellular infiltration. Results: Analysis of scoring revealed good to very good intraobserver agreement within pathologist A (weighted kappa [WK], 0.76 to 0.81), and moderate to good agreement within pathologist B (WK, 0.56 to 0.63). Interobserver agreement for synoviocyte proliferation (WK, 0.34 to 0.52) and cellular infiltration (WK, 0.38 to 0.48) scores was fair to moderate. Joint effusion and synoviocyte proliferation were significantly associated, as were joint effusion and cellular infiltration. There was no association between histopathologic changes and the other clinical signs evaluated. Conclusions: The scoring system was helpful for evaluating synovial inflammation caused by OCD of the intermediate ridge of the tibia in horses. Histopathologic signs of synovial inflammation were associated with effusion but not with lameness.
Publication Date: 2010-01-02 PubMed ID: 20043780DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.71.1.47Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research project seeks to establish a scoring system for changes observable in the synovium in horses’ tarsocrural joints due to osteochondritis dissecans. By examining 93 horses afflicted by this condition, the researchers found an association between these changes and joint effusion, but not lameness.
Study Objective and Methods
This research was aimed at developing a reliable scoring system for checking histopathological changes caused by osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in the tarsocrural joints (TCJs) of horses. It also purposed to establish any relationships between these changes and clinical signs like joint effusion or lameness.
- The study was performed on 93 horses with OCD and 38 control horses without the condition.
- All horses underwent several tests including lameness check, TCJ effusion, and pelvic limb flexion.
- Synovial biopsy specimens were collected from the OCD-affected horses during arthroscopy while the control horses provided similar postmortem tissue specimens.
Criteria and Scoring
The histological synovitis signs in all 172 biopsy samples were evaluated by two pathologists (A and B), making use of two criteria: synoviocyte proliferation and cellular infiltration.
- For pathologist A, the intraobserver agreement score was good to very good (WK, 0.76 to 0.81)
- For pathologist B, this score ranged from moderate to good (WK, 0.56 to 0.63).
- The interobserver agreement scores for synoviocyte proliferation and cellular infiltration ranged from fair to moderate.
Results and Conclusions
The research findings indicated a significant connection between joint effusion and both synoviocyte proliferation and cellular infiltration. However, no associations were established between histopathological changes and lameness.
- Thus the researchers concluded that their developed scoring system is useful in evaluating synovial inflammation caused by OCD in horses.
- They also found through their research that histopathological signs of synovial inflammation were correlated with effusion, but not with lameness.
Cite This Article
APA
Brink P, Skydsgaard M, Teige J, Tverdal A, Dolvik NI.
(2010).
Association between clinical signs and histopathologic changes in the synovium of the tarsocrural joint of horses with osteochondritis dissecans of the tibia.
Am J Vet Res, 71(1), 47-54.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.71.1.47 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Jagersro Equine ATG Clinic, Jagersro, 212 37 Malmo, Sweden. palle.brink@jagersro.nshorse.se
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / diagnosis
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Osteochondritis Dissecans / diagnosis
- Osteochondritis Dissecans / veterinary
- Synovial Membrane / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- McCoy AM, Secor EJ, Roady PJ, Gray SM, Klein J, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD. Plantar osteochondral fragments in young Standardbreds are associated with minimal joint inflammation at the time of surgical removal.. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):33-41.
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