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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Pathol / Osteochondrosis in the central and third tarsal bones of you...
Veterinary pathology2023; 61(1); 74-87; doi: 10.1177/03009858231185108

Osteochondrosis in the central and third tarsal bones of young horses.

Abstract: Recently, the central and third tarsal bones of 23 equine fetuses and foals were examined using micro-computed tomography. Radiological changes, including incomplete ossification and focal ossification defects interpreted as osteochondrosis, were detected in 16 of 23 cases. The geometry of the osteochondrosis defects suggested they were the result of vascular failure, but this requires histological confirmation. The study aim was to examine central and third tarsal bones from the 16 cases and to describe the tissues present, cartilage canals, and lesions, including suspected osteochondrosis lesions. Cases included 9 males and 7 females from 0 to 150 days of age, comprising 11 Icelandic horses, 2 standardbred horses, 2 warmblood riding horses, and 1 coldblooded trotting horse. Until 4 days of age, all aspects of the bones were covered by growth cartilage, but from 105 days, the dorsal and plantar aspects were covered by fibrous tissue undergoing intramembranous ossification. Cartilage canal vessels gradually decreased but were present in most cases up to 122 days and were absent in the next available case at 150 days. Radiological osteochondrosis defects were confirmed in histological sections from 3 cases and consisted of necrotic vessels surrounded by ischemic chondronecrosis (articular osteochondrosis) and areas of retained, morphologically viable hypertrophic chondrocytes (physeal osteochondrosis). The central and third tarsal bones formed by both endochondral and intramembranous ossification. The blood supply to the growth cartilage of the central and third tarsal bones regressed between 122 and 150 days of age. Radiological osteochondrosis defects represented vascular failure, with chondrocyte necrosis and retention, or a combination of articular and physeal osteochondrosis.
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Publication Date: 2023-07-11 PubMed ID: 37431760PubMed Central: PMC10687793DOI: 10.1177/03009858231185108Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research paper studies the occurrence of osteochondrosis, a type of bone condition, in the central and third tarsal bones of young horses by using micro-computed tomography. The findings reveal that the bones formed by both endochondral and intramembranous ossification, and any defects detected were due to vascular failure.

Research Background and Methodology

  • The research involved examining the central and third tarsal bones of 23 equine fetuses and foals.
  • The method used for examination was micro-computed tomography, a high-resolution scanning technique that enables detailed image reconstructions of bone structures.
  • The subjects, aged between 0 to 150 days, included 11 Icelandic horses, 2 standardbred horses, 2 warmblood riding horses, and 1 coldblooded trotting horse.
  • Radiological changes, such as incomplete ossification and focal ossification defects interpreted as osteochondrosis, were identified in 16 of the 23 cases.

Key Findings

  • The study confirmed that all aspects of the horse’s bones were layered by growth cartilage up to 4 days of age. Beginning on day 105, the dorsal and plantar aspects were covered by fibrous tissue undergoing a form of bone formation called intramembranous ossification.
  • Cartilage canal vessels gradually decreased but were still present in most cases up to 122 days of age and absent in the next case studied at 150 days.
  • The study affirms that defects detected radiologically were indeed instances of osteochondrosis. They consisted of necrotic vessels surrounded by ischemic chondronecrosis (a form of osteochondrosis affecting joints) and areas of retained hypertrophic chondrocytes (a form of osteochondrosis affecting the growth plate).
  • The blood supply to the growth cartilage of the central and third tarsal bones regressed between 122 and 150 days of age, falling in line with the detected defects.

Conclusion

  • The research highlights that the central and third tarsal bones formed by both endochondral, a process where cartilage is replaced by bone, and intramembranous ossification, a process where bones form directly from condensed mesenchyme tissue.
  • It was concluded that radiological osteochondrosis defects represent vascular failure, which can result in chondrocyte necrosis and retention, and furthermore, the emergence of both articular and physeal osteochondrosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Olstad K, Ekman S, Björnsdóttir S, Fjordbakk CT, Hansson K, Sigurdsson SF, Ley CJ. (2023). Osteochondrosis in the central and third tarsal bones of young horses. Vet Pathol, 61(1), 74-87. https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231185108

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 1544-2217
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Pages: 74-87

Researcher Affiliations

Olstad, Kristin
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Ekman, Stina
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Björnsdóttir, Sigriður
  • Agricultural University of Iceland, Hvanneyri, Iceland.
Fjordbakk, Cathrine T
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Hansson, Kerstin
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Sigurdsson, Sigurdur F
  • Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Ley, Charles J
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Male
  • Female
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • X-Ray Microtomography
  • Osteochondrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • Osteochondrosis / pathology
  • Cartilage / pathology
  • Necrosis / veterinary
  • Tarsal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Tarsal Bones / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology

Grant Funding

  • H16-47-192/272326 / Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research/Research Council of Norway,

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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