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Osteochondrosis Can Lead to Formation of Pseudocysts and True Cysts in the Subchondral Bone of Horses.
Abstract: Osteochondrosis arises as a result of focal failure of the blood supply to growth cartilage. The current aim was to examine the pathogenesis of pseudocysts and true cysts in subchondral bone following failure of the blood supply to the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex in horses. Cases were recruited based on identification of lesions (n = 17) that were considered likely to progress to or to represent pseudocysts or true cysts in epiphyseal bone in histological sections and included 10 horses ranging in age from 48 days to 5 years old. Cases comprised 3 warmbloods, 3 Standardbreds, 1 Quarter horse and 1 Arabian with spontaneous lesions and 2 Fjord ponies with experimentally induced lesions. Seven lesions consisted of areas of ischemic chondronecrosis and were compatible with pseudocysts. Two lesions were located at intermediate depth in epiphyseal growth cartilage, 2 lesions were located in the ossification front, 2 lesions were located in epiphyseal bone and 1 lesion was located in the metaphyseal growth plate (physis). Ten lesions contained dilated blood vessels and were compatible with true cysts. In 2 lesions the dilated blood vessels were located within the lumina of failed cartilage canals. In the 8 remaining lesions areas of ischemic chondronecrosis were associated with granulation tissue in the subjacent bone and dilated vessels were located within this granulation tissue. Failure of the blood supply and ischemic chondronecrosis can lead to formation of pseudocysts or dilatation of blood vessels and formation of true cysts in the epiphyseal bone of horses.
© The Author(s) 2014.
Publication Date: 2014-11-26 PubMed ID: 25428408DOI: 10.1177/0300985814559399Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores how a condition known as osteochondrosis – a disruption of blood supply to growth cartilage – can lead to the formation of pseudocysts and true cysts in the subchondral bone of horses. The researchers examined a variety of equine subjects, uncovering key information about the development and location of these pseudocystic and cystic lesions.
Research Methodology
- The research subjects were horses with identified lesions believed to be precursors to or existing pseudocysts or true cysts in the epiphyseal bone. There were 17 such cases, involving horses of different ages and breeds.
- The sample included a spectrum of horse breeds, including 3 Warmbloods, 3 Standardbreds, a Quarter Horse, an Arabian, and 2 Fjord ponies, which had experimentally induced lesions. The age of the horses ranged from 48 days to 5 years old.
Findings
- Out of the 17 lesions, seven were areas of ischemic chondronecrosis – tissue death due to inadequate blood supply – and were deemed compatible with pseudocysts. These pseudocystic lesions were found in varied sites, including the metaphyseal growth plate and the ossification front.
- Ten of the cases revealed lesions that contained dilated blood vessels, which are regarded as consistent with the characteristics of true cysts. Two of these were found within the lumina of failed cartilage canals, whilst the remaining eight were associated with granulation tissue in the subjacent bone.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that disruptions of blood supply, leading to ischemic chondronecrosis, can cause the formation of pseudocysts or true cysts in the epiphyseal bone of horses.
- The granulation tissue associated with ischemic chondronecrosis contained dilated vessels also located within the lumina of failed cartilage canals, contributing to the formation of true cysts.
This study provides valuable insight into the pathogenesis of subchondral bone cysts in horses, potentially guiding future treatment and prevention strategies for osteochondrosis and its associated complications.
Cite This Article
APA
Olstad K, Østevik L, Carlson CS, Ekman S.
(2014).
Osteochondrosis Can Lead to Formation of Pseudocysts and True Cysts in the Subchondral Bone of Horses.
Vet Pathol, 52(5), 862-872.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985814559399 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway kristin.olstad@nvh.no.
- Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.
- University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Cysts / etiology
- Bone Cysts / pathology
- Bone Cysts / veterinary
- Bone and Bones / pathology
- Female
- Femur / pathology
- Growth Plate / pathology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Osteochondrosis / complications
- Osteochondrosis / pathology
- Osteochondrosis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Lemirre T, Santschi E, Girard C, Fogarty U, Chapuis L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S. Maturation of the equine medial femoral condyle osteochondral unit. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2020 Mar;2(1):100029.
- Ząbek T, Witarski W, Szmatoła T, Sawicki S, Mrozowicz J, Samiec M. Trichostatin A-Mediated Epigenetic Modulation Predominantly Triggers Transcriptomic Alterations in the Ex Vivo Expanded Equine Chondrocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Oct 29;23(21).
- Olstad K, Gangsei LE, Kongsro J. A method for labelling lesions for machine learning and some new observations on osteochondrosis in computed tomographic scans of four pig joints. BMC Vet Res 2022 Aug 31;18(1):328.
- Olstad K, Aasmundstad T, Kongsro J, Grindflek E. 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 2022 Jan 18;18(1):44.
- García-González M, Muñoz Guzón FM, González-Cantalapiedra A, López-Peña M, de Frutos Pachón F, Pereira-Espinel Plata T, González Fernández PM, Serra Rodríguez JA. Case Report: First Evidence of a Benign Bone Cyst in an Adult Teckel Dog Treated With Shark Teeth-Derived Bioapatites. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:626992.
- Hendrickson EHS, Lykkjen S, Dolvik NI, Olstad K. Prevalence of osteochondral lesions in the fetlock and hock joints of Standardbred horses that survived bacterial infection before 6 months of age. BMC Vet Res 2018 Dec 10;14(1):390.
- Peter VG, O'Keeffe TA, Smith LCR, Schweizer-Gorgas D. Radiographic Identification of Osseous Cyst- Like Lesions in the Distal Phalanx in 22 Lame Thoroughbred Horses Managed Conservatively and Their Racing Performance. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:286.
- Steiger JI, Richter H, Donati B, Ohlerth S. Diagnostic Performance of Radiography for the Evaluation of Osteoarthritis in the Equine Distal Tarsus: Comparison with Computed Tomography. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 27;15(17).
- 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.
- Degorska B, Sterna J, Bonecka J, Sobczak-Filipiak M, Jacewicz J. Successful treatment of a benign, non-infected cyst in a dog by bone marrow injections. Vet Med (Praha) 2023 Aug;68(8):337-342.
- Pérez-Nogués M, López-Sanromán J, Spirito M, Manso-Díaz G. Treatments and Prognosis for Subchondral Cystic Lesions in the Distal Extremities in Thoroughbred Prospect Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 7;13(18).
- Olstad K, Ekman S, Björnsdóttir S, Fjordbakk CT, Hansson K, Sigurdsson SF, Ley CJ. Osteochondrosis in the central and third tarsal bones of young horses. Vet Pathol 2024 Jan;61(1):74-87.
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