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Development of osteochondrosis in Lusitano foals: a radiographic study.

Abstract: This study aimed to detect, by radiographic examination, the evolution of osteochondral lesions in the tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints of Lusitano foals. Within 1 month of age, 76.08% of foals had radiographic signs of osteochondrosis, but only 16.20% had lesions at 18 months. The radiographic signs resolved by 5 mo of age in most foals, but some cases that involved either joint, were not resolved until 12 mo of age. It is thought that the "age of no return" is 5 mo for the tarsocrural and 8 mo for the femoropatellar joint but this study demonstrated regression of osteochondral lesions in both joints of Lusitano foals up to 12 months of age. Développement de l’ostéochondrose chez les poulains Lusitaniens : une étude radiographique. Cette étude visait à détecter, par examen radiographique, l’évolution des lésions ostéochondrales dans les articulations tarso-crurale et fémoro-patellaire des poulains Lusitaniens. À l’âge de 1 mois, 76,08 % des poulains présentaient des signes radiographiques d’ostéochondrose, mais seulement 16,20 % avaient des lésions à l’âge de 18 mois. Les signes radiographiques se résorbaient à l’âge de 5 mois chez la plupart des poulains, mais, dans certains cas qui touchaient l’une ou l’autre des articulations, ils n’étaient pas résolus jusqu’à l’âge de 12 mois. On croit que l’«âge de non-retour» est de 5 mois pour l’articulation tarso-crurale et de 8 mois pour l’articulation fémoro-patellaire, mais cette étude a démontré la régression des lésions ostéochondrales chez les poulains Lusitaniens jusqu’à l’âge de 12 mois.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
Publication Date: 2013-04-02 PubMed ID: 23543926PubMed Central: PMC3447310
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This research study investigates the onset and resolution of joint lesions known as osteochondrosis in young Lusitano foals, using radiographic exams. The study revealed a significant reduction of these lesions up to the age of 12 months, contradicting previous belief that their ‘point of no return’ was at 5 months (tarsocrural joints) or 8 months (femoropatellar joints).

Purpose of the Study

  • The purpose of this research was to use radiographic studies to track the development and evolution of osteochondral lesions in the tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints of young Lusitano foals.

Observations and Findings

  • Within the first month of age, 76.08% of the foals examined showed radiographic signs of osteochondrosis.
  • However, by the time the foals reached 18 months of age, instances of lesions had decreased to just 16.20%.
  • Interestingly, most foals exhibited a resolution of these radiographic signs by the time they reached 5 months of age. Still, in some cases where either the tarsocrural or the femoropatellar joint was involved, resolution did not occur until the foals were 12 months old.

Implication of Results

  • The findings from this study challenge the previously held belief of defining the ‘age of no return’ as 5 months for the tarsocrural joint and 8 months for the femoropatellar joint.
  • This research demonstrated evidence of regression of osteochondral lesions in both of these joint areas in Lusitano foals up to the age of 12 months. Therefore, this suggest that there might be an opportunity for the foals to recover from such lesions past the traditionally held ‘point of no return’.

Cite This Article

APA
Baccarin RY, Pereira MA, Roncati NV, Bergamaschi RR, Hagen SC. (2013). Development of osteochondrosis in Lusitano foals: a radiographic study. Can Vet J, 53(10), 1079-1084.

Publication

ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 10
Pages: 1079-1084

Researcher Affiliations

Baccarin, Raquel Yvonne Arantes
  • Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. baccarin@usp.br
Pereira, Marco Antonio
    Roncati, Neimar Vanderlei
      Bergamaschi, Rafael Ramalho Corso
        Hagen, Stefano Carlo Filippo

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Breeding
          • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
          • Horse Diseases / genetics
          • Horses
          • Osteochondrosis / diagnostic imaging
          • Osteochondrosis / genetics
          • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
          • Radiography
          • Tarsal Joints / diagnostic imaging
          • Tarsal Joints / pathology

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. Crecan CM, Ciulu-Angelescu V, Morar IA, Lupșan AF, Tripon MA, Tripon MA, Bungărdean D, Daradics Z, Peștean CP. Quantitative lameness assessment in horses by using an accelerometer-based simple device: A preliminary study. Open Vet J 2024 Nov;14(11):3089-3099.
            doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i11.38pubmed: 39737023google scholar: lookup
          2. Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311965pubmed: 39392827google scholar: lookup
          3. Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Nineteen years of radiographic screening: Impact of sepsis and evolution of osteochondrosis dissecans prevalence in Walloon sport horses born between 2004 and 2022. PLoS One 2024;19(9):e0308304.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308304pubmed: 39255258google scholar: lookup
          4. Van Cauter R, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Caudron I. Evaluation of the appearance of osteochondrosis lesions by two radiographic examinations in sport horses aged from 12 to 36 months. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286213.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286213pubmed: 37220101google scholar: lookup
          5. Naik MV, Kirino Y, Uemura R, Kim S, Inoue Y, Hidaka Y. Radiographic diagnosis and surgical management for successful outcomes for osteochondrosis in Japanese Black calves. J Vet Med Sci 2021 Jan 21;83(1):151-157.
            doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0310pubmed: 33390374google scholar: lookup
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            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219900pubmed: 31314780google scholar: lookup