FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 988826; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.988826

Radiographic prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions of the proximal interphalangeal joint of Australian Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings and associations with sales results and race performance.

Abstract: Ascertain the radiographic prevalence and variation in characteristics of juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOC) in the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of Australian Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings. Establish whether there are any significant associations with public auction sale results and racing performance. Unassigned: Retrospective evaluation of 1,098 yearling repository radiograph sets. Comparison of sales results and whole career racing performance of the case group with two control groups: maternal siblings ( = 397) and yearlings without PIP JOC ( = 391). Unassigned: 6.3% of yearlings had at least one PIPJ JOC lesion with 4.8% having subchondral lucencies of the proximal phalanx (P1SC), 0.6% with subchondral lucencies of the middle phalanx (P2SC) and 0.8% with osteochondral fragmentation (OCF). P1SC were more prevalent in forelimbs and P2SC and OCF were more commonly located in the hindlimbs. 51% of PIPJ JOC were not identified on a lateromedial projection (LM). A significantly lower proportion of horses with OCF were successfully sold at public auction ( ≤ 0.05) but there was no significant difference in sales price between the case group and controls. A lower proportion of horses with PIPJ JOC made it to the racetrack to race, although this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in racing performance between the case group and controls, although there was a trend toward case horses earning lower career prize money and lower prize money per race ( ≤ 0.1). Lesions located in a dorsal or palmar/plantar location on the LM projection earned a lower average prize money per race ( ≤ 0.05) than those in a central location, and showed a trend toward earning lower total prize money ( ≤ 0.1) and number of places ( ≤ 0.1). There was no significant difference in performance for horses with lesions at the medial, axial or lateral aspects of the articular surface. Unassigned: Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the presence of PIPJ JOC in radiographs of Thoroughbred yearlings should be attributed a low to moderate risk to future racing performance, however certain lesion characteristics may be associated with decreased performance.
Copyright © 2022 Faulkner, Vanderperren, Duchateau and O'Sullivan.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-10-10 PubMed ID: 36299626PubMed Central: PMC9589099DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.988826Google 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 study investigates how juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOC) in the joint of young Australian Thoroughbred racehorses affect their performance in racing and the sale at public auctions. The research suggests that while the presence of this condition holds a low to moderate risk to the horse’s future racing capabilities, certain lesion characteristics may contribute to decreased performance.

Research Methodology

  • The study is based on a retrospective evaluation of 1,098 radiograph sets of yearling Thoroughbred horses.
  • It explores whether there are any significant associations between the prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOC) in the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) and the horses’ auction sales results and racing performance. The researchers compared data from horses with and without these conditions, and also with the siblings of these horses.

Findings

  • The study found that around 6.3% of yearlings had at least one PIPJ JOC lesion, with 4.8% having subchondral lucencies of the proximal phalanx (P1SC), 0.6% with subchondral lucencies of the middle phalanx (P2SC) and 0.8% with osteochondral fragmentation (OCF).
  • There was a tendency for P1SC to be more common in the forelimbs, while P2SC and OCF were usually located in the hindlimbs.
  • About half of the JOC were not identified on a lateromedial projection (LM), which is a particular radiographical view.
  • The research discovered that horses with OCF were less likely to be sold in public auctions, though the sales price wasn’t significantly impacted by the presence of the condition.
  • Additionally, horses with PIPJ JOC were less likely to race, but statistically, this was not significant.
  • Even though horses with these conditions did not show significantly different race performance compared to unaffected horses, they tended to earn less total prize money and lower prize money per race.
  • In terms of lesion location, lesions situated in a dorsal or palmar/plantar area tended to result in lower average prize money per race.

Conclusions

  • The research concludes that the presence of PIPJ JOC in radiographs of Thoroughbred yearlings should be associated with a low to moderate risk to future racing performance.
  • However, they additionally found that certain lesion characteristics may be linked with decreased performance.
  • There was no notable difference in performance for horses with lesions at the medial, axial or lateral aspects of the articular surface.

Cite This Article

APA
Faulkner J, Vanderperren K, Duchateau L, O'Sullivan C. (2022). 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, 9, 988826. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.988826

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 988826
PII: 988826

Researcher Affiliations

Faulkner, Josephine
  • Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vanderperren, Katrien
  • Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Duchateau, Luc
  • Biometrics Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
O'Sullivan, Chris
  • Randwick Equine Centre Equine Specialists, Horsley Park, NSW, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Jacquet S, Robert C, Valette JP, Denoix JM. Evolution of radiological findings detected in the limbs of 321 young horses between the ages of 6 and 18 months.. Vet J 2013 Jul;197(1):58-64.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.03.042pubmed: 23660154google scholar: lookup
  2. Contino EK, Park RD, McIlwraith CW. Prevalence of radiographic changes in yearling and 2-year-old Quarter Horses intended for cutting.. Equine Vet J 2012 Mar;44(2):185-95.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00432.xpubmed: 21815932google scholar: lookup
  3. Stock KF, Hamann H, Distl O. 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 2005 Oct;52(8):388-94.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00753.xpubmed: 16176566google scholar: lookup
  4. Couroucé-Malblanc A, Leleu C, Bouchilloux M, Geffroy O. Abnormal radiographic findings in 865 French standardbred trotters and their relationship to racing performance.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):417-22.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05579.xpubmed: 17402458google scholar: lookup
  5. Santschi EM, Prichard MA, Williams JM, Morehead JP. Prevalence of radiographic abnormalities of the proximal interphalangeal joint of young thoroughbreds and associations with early racing performance.. J Equine Vet Sci (2015) 35:225–31.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.01.002google scholar: lookup
  6. Vargas JV, Bramlage LR, Spike-Pierce DL. Racing prognosis of thoroughbred yearlings with subchondral bone lucencies in the proximal interphalangeal joint.. AAEP Proceedings Vol. 57. American Association of Equine Practitioners (2011). p. 242.
  7. Fjordbakk CT, Strand E, Milde AK, Ihler CF, Rorvik AM. Osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint in young horses: 6 cases (1997-2006).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007 May 15;230(10):1498-501.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.230.10.1498pubmed: 17504041google scholar: lookup
  8. Ellis DR, Greenwood RE. Six cases of degenerative joint disease of the proximal interphalangeal joint of young Thoroughbreds.. Equine Vet J 1985 Jan;17(1):66-8.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02046.xpubmed: 3979378google scholar: lookup
  9. Trotter GW, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Turner AS. Degenerative joint disease with osteochondrosis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in young horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1982 Jun 1;180(11):1312-8.
    pubmed: 7096172
  10. Schneider RK, Ragle CA, Carter BG, Davis WE. Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint of the pelvic limbs in three horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1994 Jul 1;205(1):79-82.
    pubmed: 7928555
  11. Kane AJ, McIlwraith CW, Park RD, Rantanen NW, Morehead JP, Bramlage LR. Radiographic changes in Thoroughbred yearlings. Part 2: Associations with racing performance.. Equine Vet J 2003 Jun;35(4):366-74.
    doi: 10.2746/042516403776014307pubmed: 12880004google scholar: lookup
  12. Cohen ND, Carter GK, Watkins JP, Conor MSO, O'Conor MS. Association of racing performance with specific abnormal radiographic findings in Thoroughbred yearlings sold in Texas.. J Equine Vet Sci (2006) 26:462–74.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2006.08.004google scholar: lookup
  13. Jackson M, Vizard A, Anderson G, Clarke A, Mattoon J, Lavelle R. A Prospective Study of Presale Radiographs of Thoroughbred Yearlings.. Wagga Wagga, NSW: Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. (2009).
  14. Miyakoshi D, Senba H, Shikichi M, Maeda M, Shibata R, Misumi K. A retrospective study of radiographic abnormalities in the repositories for Thoroughbreds at yearling sales in Japan.. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Nov 10;79(11):1807-1814.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.16-0425pmc: PMC5709557pubmed: 28993565google scholar: lookup
  15. Robert C, Valette JP, Jacquet S, Denoix JM. Influence of juvenile osteochondral conditions on racing performance in Thoroughbreds born in Normandy.. Vet J 2013 Jul;197(1):83-9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.03.046pubmed: 23639369google scholar: lookup
  16. Huntington J, Pascoe R, Kannegieter NJ, Major D. A Guide to Examination of Horses (The Blue Book), 4th ed.. Sydney, NSW: Australian Equine Veterinary Association; (2003), p. 145–6.
  17. Flash ML, Renwick M, Gilkerson JR, Stevenson MA. Descriptive analysis of Thoroughbred horses born in Victoria, Australia, in 2010; barriers to entering training and outcomes on exiting training and racing.. PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0241273.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241273pmc: PMC7592779pubmed: 33112903google scholar: lookup
  18. Redding W. Pathologic conditions involving the internal structures of the foot.. In: Floyd A, Mansmann R, editors. Equine Podiatry. St. Louis, MO: Saunders; (2007). p. 253–93.
  19. Sherlock C, Mair T. Osseous cyst-like lesions/subchondral bone cysts of the phalanges.. Equine Vet Educ (2011) 23:191–204.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2010.00222.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  20. McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IM. Arthroscopic surgery of the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints.. In: Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse. Amsterdam: Elsevier; (2015), p. 316–43.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7234-3693-5.00011-4google scholar: lookup
  21. Moyer CT, Bramlage LR, Werre SR, Ruggles A, Embertson R, Hopper S. Osteochondral fragments of the pastern joint at the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone: performance after arthroscopic removal (2000-2015).. Vet Surg 2019 Oct;48(7):1181-1187.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.13307pubmed: 31456256google scholar: lookup
  22. Radcliffe RM, Cheetham J, Bezuidenhout AJ, Ducharme NG, Nixon AJ. Arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint in four horses.. Vet Surg 2008 Dec;37(8):733-40.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2008.00440.xpubmed: 19121168google scholar: lookup
  23. Fürst A, Kaegi B, Rechenberg VB, Auer JA. The treatment of 5 horses with subchondral bone cysts of the first phalanx.. Pferdeheilkunde (1997) 13:147–61.
    doi: 10.21836/PEM19970206google scholar: lookup
  24. Ravanetti P, Lechartier A, Hamon M, Zucca E. A composite absorbable implant used to treat subchondral bone cysts in 38 horses.. Equine Vet J 2022 Jan;54(1):97-105.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13428pubmed: 33502044google scholar: lookup
  25. Lischer CJ, Auer JA. Chapter 82 - Arthrodesis techniques.. In: Equine Surgery. Amsterdam: Elsevier; (2019), p. 1374–98.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-48420-6.00082-Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  26. Kol'vek F, Krešáková L, Vdoviaková K, Medvecký Ľ, Žert Z. Modified Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis in a Yearling Filly with an Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in the Proximal Phalanx.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 28;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11040948pmc: PMC8066530pubmed: 33800624google scholar: lookup
  27. Knox PM, Watkins JP. Proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis using a combination plate-screw technique in 53 horses (1994-2003).. Equine Vet J 2006 Nov;38(6):538-42.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406X154840pubmed: 17124844google scholar: lookup
  28. Watkins JP. Arthrodesis of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint.. In: Nixon AJ, editor. Equine Fracture Repair. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; (2020), p. 277–94.
    doi: 10.1002/9781119108757.ch18google scholar: lookup
  29. . Racecourse Finance Presentation. The Racecourse Association. (2020). p. 16.
  30. Kim JS, Mitchell SD, Wang LC. Hedonic pricing and the role of stud fees in the market for thoroughbred yearlings in Australia.. Aust J Agric Resour Econ (2019) 63:439–71.
    doi: 10.1111/1467-8489.12316google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.