FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-07-11 PubMed ID: 37431760PubMed Central: PMC10687793DOI: 10.1177/03009858231185108Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 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.

References

This article includes 34 references
  1. Adams R, Poulos P. A skeletal ossification index for neonatal foals.. Vet Radiol 1988;29:217–222.
  2. Allen AL, Doige CE, Fretz PB. Hyperplasia of the thyroid gland and concurrent musculoskeletal deformities in western Canadian foals: reexamination of a previously described syndrome.. Can Vet J 1994;35:31–38.
    pmc: PMC1686238pubmed: 8044756
  3. Barneveld A, van Weeren PR. Early changes in the distal intertarsal joint of Dutch Warmblood foals and the influence of exercise on bone density in the third tarsal bone.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999;31:67–73.
    pubmed: 10999663
  4. Björnsdóttir S, Ekman S, Eksell P. High detail radiography and histology of the centrodistal tarsal joint of Icelandic horses age 6 months to 6 years.. Equine Vet J 2004;36:5–11.
    pubmed: 14756365
  5. Blumer MJF. Bone tissue and histological and molecular events during development of the long bones.. Ann Anat 2021;235:151704.
    pubmed: 33600952
  6. Carlson CS, Cullins LD, Meuten DJ. Osteochondrosis of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex in young horses: evidence for a defect in cartilage canal blood supply.. Vet Pathol 1995;32:641–647.
    pubmed: 8592799
  7. Carlson CS, Meuten DJ, Richardson DC. Ischemic necrosis of cartilage in spontaneous and experimental lesions of osteochondrosis.. J Orthop Res 1991;9:317–329.
    pubmed: 2010836
  8. Dik KJ, Enzerink E, van Weeren PR. Radiographic development of osteochondral abnormalities in the hock and stifle of Dutch Warmblood foals, from age 1 to 11 months.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999;31:9–15.
    pubmed: 10999655
  9. Dutton DM, Watkins JP, Walker MA. Incomplete ossification of the tarsal bones in foals: 22 cases (1988-1996).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998;213:1590–1594.
    pubmed: 9838959
  10. Finnøy A, Olstad K, Lilledahl MB. Non-linear optical microscopy of cartilage canals in the distal femur of young pigs may reveal the cause of articular osteochondrosis.. BMC Vet Res 2017;13:270.
    pmc: PMC5568222pubmed: 28830435
  11. Laverty S, Stover SM, Belanger D. Radiographic, high detail radiographic, microangiographic and histological findings of the distal portion of the tarsus in weanling, young and adult horses.. Equine Vet J 1991;23:413–421.
    pubmed: 1778157
  12. Ley CJ, Björnsdóttir S, Ekman S. Detection of early osteoarthritis in the centrodistal joints of Icelandic horses: evaluation of radiography and low-field magnetic resonance imaging.. Equine Vet J 2016;48:57–64.
    pubmed: 25290785
  13. Ley CJ, Ekman S, Dahlberg LE. Evaluation of osteochondral sample collection guided by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for early detection of osteoarthritis in centrodistal joints of young Icelandic horses.. Am J Vet Res 2013;74:874–887.
    pubmed: 23718656
  14. McLaughlin BG, Doige CE. A study of ossification of carpal and tarsal bones in normal and hypothyroid foals.. Can Vet J 1982;23:164–168.
    pmc: PMC1790108pubmed: 17422143
  15. McLaughlin BG, Doige CE. Congenital musculosketal lesions and hyperplastic goitre in foals.. Can Vet J 1981;22:130–133.
    pmc: PMC1790030pubmed: 7248888
  16. Morgan JP. Necrosis of the third tarsal bone of the horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1967;151:1334–1342.
    pubmed: 5624193
  17. Olstad K, Cnudde V, Masschaele B. Micro-computed tomography of early lesions of osteochondrosis in the tarsus of foals.. Bone 2008;43:574–583.
    pubmed: 18579463
  18. Olstad K, Ekman S, Carlson CS. An update on the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis.. Vet Pathol 2015;52:785–802.
    pubmed: 26080832
  19. Olstad K, Hendrickson EHS, Carlson CS. Transection of vessels in epiphyseal cartilage canals leads to osteochondrosis and osteochondrosis dissecans in the femoro-patellar joint of foals; a potential model of juvenile osteochondritis dissecans.. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2013;21:730–738.
    pubmed: 23428601
  20. Olstad K, Kongsro J, Grindflek E. Consequences of the natural course of articular osteochondrosis in pigs for the suitability of computed tomography as a screening tool.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10(1):212.
    pmc: PMC4172834pubmed: 25199991
  21. Olstad K, Østevik L, Carlson CS. Osteochondrosis can lead to formation of pseudocysts and true cysts in the subchondral bone of horses.. Vet Pathol 2015;52:862–872.
    pubmed: 25428408
  22. Olstad K, Wormstrand B, Kongsro J. Osteochondrosis in the distal femoral physis of pigs starts with vascular failure.. Vet Pathol 2019;56:732–742.
    pubmed: 31060473
  23. Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S. Early lesions of osteochondrosis in the distal tibia of foals.. J Orthop Res 2007;25:1094–1105.
    pubmed: 17415757
  24. Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S. Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foals and relationship to osteochondrosis.. Equine Vet J 2008;40:30–39.
    pubmed: 18083657
  25. Pool RR. Difficulties in definition of equine osteochondrosis; differentiation of development and acquired lesions.. Equine Vet J 1993;25(Suppl 16):5–12.
  26. Poulos P. Tarsal disease in young horses.. In: McIlwraith CW. ed. AQHA Developmental Orthopedic Disease Symposium. Dallas-Forth Worth, TX: The American Quarter Horse Association; 1986:52–54.
  27. Reiland S. Morphology of osteochondrosis and sequelae in pigs.. Acta Radiol Suppl 1978;358:45–90.
    pubmed: 233602
  28. Sigurdsson SF, Olstad K, Ley CJ. Radiological, vascular osteochondrosis occurs in the distal tarsus, and may cause osteoarthritis.. Equine Vet J 2022;54:82–96.
    pubmed: 33534938
  29. Sprackman L, Dakin SG, May SA. Relationship between the shape of the central and third tarsal bones and the presence of tarsal osteoarthritis.. Vet J 2015;204:94–98.
    pubmed: 25792180
  30. McIlwraith CW. Summary of panel findings.. In: McIlwraith CW, ed. AQHA Developmental Orthopedic Disease Symposium. Dallas-Forth Worth, TX: The American Quarter Horse Association; 1986:55–61.
  31. Watrous BJ, Hultgren BD, Wagner PC. Osteochondrosis and juvenile spavin in equids.. Am J Vet Res 1991;52:607–612.
    pubmed: 2053733
  32. Wormstrand BH, Fjordbakk CT, Griffiths DJ. Development of the blood supply to the growth cartilage of the medial femoral condyle of foals.. Equine Vet J 2021;53:134–142.
    pubmed: 32144821
  33. Wormstrand BH, Østevik L, Ekman S. Septic arthritis/osteomyelitis may lead to osteochondrosis-like lesions in foals.. Vet Pathol 2018;55:693–702.
    pubmed: 29807507
  34. Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS. Focal changes in blood supply during normal epiphyseal growth are central in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis in pigs.. Bone 2004;35:1294–1306.
    pubmed: 15589210

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Chen J, Liu Y, Chen J, Wu H, Wu L, Huang Y, Zhang C. Osteochondrosis and osteomalacia are distinguished by inflammatory factors and metabolites. Medicine (Baltimore) 2026 Jan 23;105(4):e43101.
    doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000043101pubmed: 41578592google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. 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
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.