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BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 44; doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-03091-6

Osteochondrosis and other lesions in all intervertebral, articular process and rib joints from occiput to sacrum in pigs with poor back conformation, and relationship to juvenile kyphosis.

Abstract: Computed tomography (CT) is used to evaluate body composition and limb osteochondrosis in selection of breeding boars. Pigs also develop heritably predisposed abnormal curvature of the spine including juvenile kyphosis. It has been suggested that osteochondrosis-like changes cause vertebral wedging and kyphosis, both of which are identifiable by CT. The aim of the current study was to examine the spine from occiput to sacrum to map changes and evaluate relationships, especially whether osteochondrosis caused juvenile kyphosis, in which case CT could be used in selection against it. Whole-body CT scans were collected retrospectively from 37 Landrace or Duroc boars with poor back conformation scores. Spine curvature and vertebral shape were evaluated, and all inter-vertebral, articular process and rib joints from the occiput to the sacrum were assessed for osteochondrosis and other lesions. Results: Twenty-seven of the 37 (73%) pigs had normal spine curvature, whereas 10/37 (27%) pigs had abnormal curvature and all of them had wedge vertebrae. The 37 pigs had 875 focal lesions in articular process and rib joints, 98.5% of which represented stages of osteochondrosis. Five of the 37 pigs had focal lesions in other parts of vertebrae, mainly consisting of vertebral body osteochondrosis. The 10 pigs with abnormal curvature had 21 wedge vertebrae, comprising 10 vertebrae without focal lesions, six ventral wedge vertebrae with ventral osteochondrosis lesions and five dorsal wedge vertebrae with lesions in the neuro-central synchondrosis, articular process or rib joints. Conclusions: Computed tomography was suited for identification of wedge vertebrae, and kyphosis was due to ventral wedge vertebrae compatible with heritably predisposed vertebral body osteochondrosis. Articular process and rib joint osteochondrosis may represent incidental findings in wedge vertebrae. The role of the neuro-central synchondrosis in the pathogenesis of vertebral wedging warrants further investigation.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-01-18 PubMed ID: 35042517PubMed Central: PMC8764802DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03091-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focuses on using computed tomography (CT) to examine spinal deformities in pigs, particularly osteochondrosis and juvenile kyphosis, with the ultimate objective of identifying if these conditions can be identified and selected against through CT scans.

Research Methodology

– The study examined the entire spine, from the occiput to sacrum, of 37 boars (both Landrace and Duroc breeds) that had poor back conformation scores.
– The CT scans were used to evaluate the curvature and shape of the vertebral structure, and all the joints, including intervertebral, articular process, and rib joints, were assessed.
– The researchers marked all identifiable osteochondrosis-related changes and other lesions within these areas.

Results of the Study

– Of the 37 pigs, 73% had a normal spinal curvature, and the remaining 27% showed abnormalities in their spinal curvature. All pigs with abnormal curvature had wedge vertebrae.
– Across all the pigs in the study, 875 focal lesions were identified in the articular process and rib joints. Almost all (98.5%) of these lesions represented stages of osteochondrosis.
– Five of the 37 pigs had focal lesions in other parts of the vertebrae, with most being vertebral body osteochondrosis.
– The pigs with abnormal spinal curvature had 21 wedge vertebrae amongst them: 10 were without focal lesions; six were ventral wedge vertebrae with ventral osteochondrosis lesions; and five were dorsal wedge vertebrae with lesions in the neuro-central synchondrosis, articular process or rib joints.

Conclusions of the Study

– The findings of the research suggest that CT is well-suited for identifying wedge vertebrae. Kyphosis was found to be due to ventral wedge vertebrae, which is compatible with heritably predisposed vertebral body osteochondrosis.
– Discoveries of articular process and rib joint osteochondrosis were incidental findings in wedge vertebrae, not firmly connected to the development of kyphosis.
– The study further proposed that the role of the neuro-central synchondrosis in the development of vertebral wedging requires more in-depth investigation, implying that further research in this area could lead to a clearer understanding of the pathogenesis of vertebral wedging.

Cite This Article

APA
Olstad K, Aasmundstad T, Kongsro J, Grindflek E. (2022). Osteochondrosis and other lesions in all intervertebral, articular process and rib joints from occiput to sacrum in pigs with poor back conformation, and relationship to juvenile kyphosis. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-03091-6

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 44

Researcher Affiliations

Olstad, Kristin
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Equine Section, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P. O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway. kristin.olstad@nmbu.no.
Aasmundstad, Torunn
  • Norsvin SA, Storhamargata 44, 2317, Hamar, Norway.
Kongsro, Jørgen
  • Norsvin SA, Storhamargata 44, 2317, Hamar, Norway.
Grindflek, Eli
  • Norsvin SA, Storhamargata 44, 2317, Hamar, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Male
  • Osteochondrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribs / diagnostic imaging
  • Ribs / pathology
  • Sacrum / diagnostic imaging
  • Sacrum / pathology
  • Scheuermann Disease / pathology
  • Scheuermann Disease / veterinary
  • Spine / diagnostic imaging
  • Spine / pathology
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Olstad K. Science-in-brief: Recent advances in failure of the blood supply to growth cartilage, osteochondrosis and developmental orthopaedic disease. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1161-1166.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14486pubmed: 39924168google scholar: lookup
  2. Gunji M, Taewcharoen N, Yamada F, Sherratt E. Does fast running limit numerical variability of the vertebral column in rabbits and hares (Leporidae: Lagomorpha)?. R Soc Open Sci 2025 Jan;12(1):241813.
    doi: 10.1098/rsos.241813pubmed: 39881789google scholar: lookup
  3. Covasa CT. Transitional, fused and/or supernumerary vertebrae in the lumbosacrocaudal region of the spine - A reality in many domestic mammals. Vet Med (Praha) 2024 May;69(5):156-168.
    doi: 10.17221/102/2023-VETMEDpubmed: 38841130google scholar: lookup
  4. Olstad K, Bugge MD, Ytrehus B, Kallerud AS. Closure of the neuro-central synchondrosis and other physes in foal cervical spines. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):217-231.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14093pubmed: 38594893google scholar: lookup
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