Prevalence of osseous fragments in distal and proximal interphalangeal, metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal and tarsocrural joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses.
Abstract: The prevalence of osseous fragments in different limb joints was analysed in 3749 young Warmblood riding horses, which were pre-selected for sale at auction from 1991 to 1998 by the Association of Hanoverian Warmblood Breeders (Verband hannoverscher Warmblutzüchter e.V.) in Verden (Aller), Germany. The evaluation of these horses was based on a standardized radiological examination, including the distal interphalangeal (DIJ), the proximal interphalangeal (PIJ), the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal (MC/MTJ) and the tarsocrural joints (TCJ). In 32% of all horses at least one osseous fragment was found on these radiographs. TCJ were affected in 9.6% of the horses and MC/MTJ in 20.7%. The percentage of horses affected in the MTJ was significantly higher (13.7%) than that of horses affected in the MCJ (9.5%). The prevalences of osseous fragments were considerably lower in DIJ (4.5%) and PIJ (0.9%). Osseous fragments only occurred either in DIJ or PIJ or MC/MTJ or TCJ in 87% of the affected horses. Depending on the joint type, osseous fragments were found in analogous joints in the front and the hind limbs in up to 26% of the affected horses, whilst bilateral affection occurred in between 10% and 46% of the horses. Distribution of osseous fragments in the limb joints investigated here did not differ significantly between male and female horses. There was a significant increase in the percentage of horses with osseous fragments in MC/MTJ during the study period. The results of this study indicate the need to act against the high prevalences of osseous fragments in the limb joints of young Warmblood riding horses.
Publication Date: 2005-09-24 PubMed ID: 16176566DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00753.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Anatomy
- Bones
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Prevalence
- Distal Interphalangeal Joint
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Joint Health
- Limb Deformities
- Longitudinal Study
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Observational Study
- Radiology
- Tarsal Joint
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Warmblood Horses
- Young Horses
Summary
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The research investigated the occurrence of bone fragments in different limb joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. It revealed that 32% of these horses had at least one bone fragment, and the findings suggest a need for strategies to reduce this high prevalence.
Research Context and Methodology
- The study focused on Hanoverian Warmblood horses, a prominent breed in riding sports, examining the prevalence of osseous (bone) fragments in their limb joints.
- The sample included 3,749 young Warmblood riding horses that were pre-selected for auction between 1991 to 1998 by the Association of Hanoverian Warmblood Breeders in Germany.
- The evaluation was based on a standardized radiological examination of different joints, including the distal interphalangeal (DIJ), proximal interphalangeal (PIJ), metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal (MC/MTJ), and tarsocrural joints (TCJ).
Key Findings
- A significant number of horses (32%) presented at least one osseous fragment in the radiological examinations of these joints. This is a noteworthy prevalence that highlights health concerns in this breed.
- The TCJ were affected in 9.6% of the horses while MC/MTJ were affected in 20.7%. Between the two, the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTJ) had a higher percentage of affected horses (13.7%) compared to the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCJ), which constituted 9.5%.
- Prevalences were considerably lower in the DIJ (4.5%) and PIJ (0.9%) joints.
- In 87% of the horses with osseous fragments, the fragments only occurred in one type of joint (either DIJ, PIJ, MC/MTJ, or TCJ).
- In terms of bilateral distribution, osseous fragments were found in identical joints in the front and back limbs in up to 26% of affected horses, while bilateral affection occurred in between 10% to 46% of the horses.
- The occurrence of bone fragments in the limb joints did not differ significantly between male and female horses.
- Over the period of the study, there was a significant increase in the percentage of horses with osseous fragments specifically in the MC/MTJ joints, highlighting a growing problem.
- The significant presence of osseous fragments indicates a need for intervention to prevent and treat this condition in Warmblood horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Stock KF, Hamann H, Distl O.
(2005).
Prevalence of osseous fragments in distal and proximal interphalangeal, metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal and tarsocrural joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses.
J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 52(8), 388-394.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00753.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), Bünteweg 17p, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carpus, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Carpus, Animal / injuries
- Carpus, Animal / pathology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / injuries
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Prevalence
- Radiography
- Tarsal Joints / diagnostic imaging
- Tarsal Joints / injuries
- Tarsal Joints / pathology
- Tarsus, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Tarsus, Animal / injuries
- Tarsus, Animal / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Zetterberg E, Leclercq A, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Haubro Andersen P, Hernlund E, Rhodin M. Prevalence of vertical movement asymmetries at trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood foals. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284105.
- Faulkner J, Vanderperren K, Duchateau L, O'Sullivan C. Radiographic prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions of the proximal interphalangeal joint of Australian Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings and associations with sales results and race performance. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:988826.
- Büttgen L, Geibel J, Simianer H, Pook T. Simulation Study on the Integration of Health Traits in Horse Breeding Programs. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 7;10(7).
- Bourebaba L, Röcken M, Marycz K. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in Horses - Molecular Background of its Pathogenesis and Perspectives for Progenitor Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2019 Jun;15(3):374-390.
- Vos NJ. Incidence of osteochondrosis (dissecans) in Dutch warmblood horses presented for pre-purchase examination. Ir Vet J 2008 Jan 1;61(1):33-7.
- Dierks C, Löhring K, Lampe V, Wittwer C, Drögemüller C, Distl O. Genome-wide search for markers associated with osteochondrosis in Hanoverian warmblood horses. Mamm Genome 2007 Oct;18(10):739-47.
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