American journal of veterinary research1991; 52(4); 607-612;

Osteochondrosis and juvenile spavin in equids.

Watrous, BJ
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Hultgren, BD
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Wagner, PC

Abstract: Thirty-six of 50 young equids examined at necropsy for gross pathologic and histopathologic evidence of osteochondrosis were determined to have lesions characteristic of this disorder in the distal joints of the tarsus. Abnormalities ranged from retained endochondral cores underlying undisturbed articular cartilage surfaces to clefts, subchondral osseous cyst-like lesions, and cartilage ulceration. Our findings supported the conclusion that osteochondrosis may cause spavin in the juvenile equid.

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Publication Date: 1991-04-01 PubMed ID: 2053733

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The study reveals that osteochondrosis, a disease affecting the joints of horses, was found in 36 out of 50 young equids examined post-mortem, suggesting that this condition may lead to the development of juvenile spavin.

Study Overview

The research focused on identifying and understanding the pathophysiological characteristics of osteochondrosis in young horses, more specifically in equids, and its potential influence on the occurrence of juvenile spavin.

An examination was conducted on 50 young equids that had passed away.
The examination included both gross pathologic (visible to the naked eye) and histopathologic (microscopic) investigations for evidence of osteochondrosis.
Out of the examined equids, 36 were confirmed to have lesions characteristic of osteochondrosis within the distal joints of the tarsus, the area equivalent to the human ankle and heel.

Osteochondrosis Characteristics and Abnormalities

Several abnormalities due to osteochondrosis, ranging from minor to severe, were observed.

For some equids, the osteochondrosis manifested as retained endochondral cores underneath undisturbed articular cartilage surfaces. This suggests that the typical growth and maturation process of the joint cartilage was interrupted.
In other cases, the disease had caused more severe joint abnormalities, including clefts in the cartilage, formation of cyst-like lesions under the cartilage (subchondral osseous), and cartilage ulceration, which refers to the erosion or open sores on the cartilage surface.