Osteochondrosis in the horse. I. A clinical and radiologic investigation of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee and hock joint.
Abstract: The clinical and radiologic features of osteochondritis dissecans in the knee and hock joint of horses are described. The material includes 91 horses, of which 43 had the lesion in one or both knee joints, and 48 in one or both hock joints. It was found that osteochondritis dissecans of the knee joint was more common than the one in the hock joint in thoroughbreds and halfbreds, while the lesion in the hock joint was most common in standardbred trotters. In the knee the lesion was most often located to the lateral trochlear ridge. In the hock joint the predilection site was the intermediate ridge of the tibia. The lesions were of obvious clinical importance and the knee joint was usually more severely affected than the hock joint. Prognosis was also more guarded in horses with knee joint involvement, regardless whether or not surgical treatment was instituted. Arthrotomy and removal of fragments in the osteochondral defects or of loose bodies was the standard surgical procedure. It was felt that this treatment improved prognosis somewhat, particularly in the horses with hock joint lesions. It was found that there are many similarities between osteochondritis dissecans in horses and in pigs and dogs. However, further investigation is needed to shed more light on etiology and pathogenesis and on the nature of osteochondritis dissecans in the horse.
Publication Date: 1978-01-01 PubMed ID: 233593
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the occurrence and characteristics of a bone and joint disease, osteochondritis dissecans, in the knee and hock joints of horses.
Study Overview
- The study involved the examination of 91 horses suffering from osteochondritis dissecans, a condition that affects the joints, particularly the knee and hock joint.
- The horses examined were classified into two main categories: those with the condition in one or both knee joints (43 horses), and those with it in one or both hock joints (48 horses).
Findings: Prevalence and Location of the Disease
- The researchers found a difference in the prevalence of osteochondritis dissecans in relation to the breed of the horse. Specifically, knee-related osteochondritis dissecans was more prevalent in thoroughbreds and halfbreds, while hock joint-related osteochondritis dissecans was more common in standardbred trotters.
- In terms of location, the knee lesions were often located on the lateral trochlear ridge. In the hock joint, the intermediate ridge of the tibia was often affected.
Significance and Severity of the Lesions
- The lesions were found to be of significant clinical importance, with the knee joint typically showing severe effects compared to the hock joint.
- Prognosis was typically more guarded for horses with knee joint involvement, irrespective of whether they underwent surgical treatment or not.
Surgical Treatment
- The standard surgical procedure involved arthrotomy, a surgery to open a joint, and the removal of fragments in the osteochondral defects or loose bodies, which are fragments of cartilage or bone that become loose within a joint.
- It was suggested that this treatment led to a slight improvement in prognosis, particularly for horses with hock joint lesions.
Comparison with Other Species and Need for Further Research
- There were identified similarities of osteochondritis dissecans in horses with that in pigs and dogs. However, the authors call for more investigation into its etiology (the cause or set of causes) and pathogenesis (the manner of development) as well as the specific nature of this condition in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Strömberg B, Rejnö S.
(1978).
Osteochondrosis in the horse. I. A clinical and radiologic investigation of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee and hock joint.
Acta Radiol Suppl, 358, 139-152.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrography
- Female
- Hindlimb / diagnostic imaging
- Hindlimb / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joints / pathology
- Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
- Knee Joint / pathology
- Male
- Osteochondritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteochondritis / pathology
- Osteochondritis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Desjardins MR, Hurtig MB. Cartilage healing: A review with emphasis on the equine model.. Can Vet J 1990 Aug;31(8):565-72.
- Rejnö S. LDH and LDH isoenzymes of synovial fluid in the horse.. Acta Vet Scand 1976;17(2):178-89.
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