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Irish veterinary journal2022; 75(1); 8; doi: 10.1186/s13620-022-00216-7

Ultrasound screening protocol for osteochondrosis at selected predilection sites in thoroughbred yearlings.

Abstract: Osteochondrosis is a common condition of young horses where there is a failure of endochondral ossification, usually at predisposed sites. The estimated prevalence of osteochondrosis is 33-44%, with radiographic screening of yearlings being used to identify lesions. Radiography has two major limitations: poor sensitivity in detecting cartilaginous lesions and secondly, the exposure of the horse and personnel to ionising radiation. Ultrasonography allows imaging of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone margins and has been shown to be more sensitive in identifying osteochondrosis lesions. However, the ultrasonographic technique for examining joints is operator dependant, resulting in highly variable examinations, thus affecting its reliability and reproducibility as a screening test. Results: A prospective observational clinical population study was undertaken involving twenty-two clinically normal weanling thoroughbred horses on-farm, describing a detailed protocol of the ultrasonographic examination technique for on-farm screening of common sites of osteochondral disease in the young horse, namely the carpal, metacarpophalangeal, stifle, tarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints. Conclusions: Two veterinary practitioners used the technique to illustrate the repeatability of the protocol. The step-by-step protocol provides a valuable, reliable, repeatable technique for veterinary professionals performing screening ultrasound in the field.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-04-27 PubMed ID: 35477486PubMed Central: PMC9044857DOI: 10.1186/s13620-022-00216-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research examines the effectiveness of using an ultrasound protocol to detect osteochondrosis, a common condition in young horses, at predilection sites in thoroughbred yearlings. The study found the ultrasound technique to be repeatable and reliable, providing a valuable tool for veterinary professionals to screen for this disease in the field.

Background

  • Osteochondrosis is a common condition observed amongst young horses, where endochondral ossification – the process by which cartilage is transformed into bone – fails at certain sites that are predisposed to the condition.
  • The prevalence of osteochondrosis is estimated to be between 33-44% amongst young horses.
  • Traditionally, radiographic screening is used to identify this condition in yearlings. However, this method has two major disadvantages: it offers poor sensitivity in detecting cartilaginous lesions, and it exposes both the horse and human personnel to ionising radiation.
  • Ultrasonography offers a solution to these drawbacks. It facilitates imaging of the articular cartilage and the margins of the subchondral bone, offering more sensitivity in identifying lesions caused by osteochondrosis.
  • However, using ultrasonography to screen for this condition is operator dependent, meaning that the examination results can vary significantly based on who performs the screening. This affects the reliability and repeatability of ultrasonography as a screening test.

Study Design and Results

  • In this prospective observational clinical study, 22 clinically normal weanling thoroughbred horses were examined on-farm.
  • The study proposes a detailed protocol for conducting the ultrasonographic examination, which can be used to screen for osteochondral disease in the young horse.
  • The protocol is designed to examine the common sites of osteochondrosis, namely the carpal, metacarpophalangeal, stifle, tarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints.

Conclusions

  • The protocol was used by two veterinary practitioners to demonstrate its repeatability.
  • The results illustrated that the protocol provides a reliable and repeatable technique for veterinary professionals engaged in ultrasound screening in the field.

Cite This Article

APA
Hoey S, O'Sullivan J, Byrne J, Devine S, Toomey W, McAllister H, Skelly C. (2022). Ultrasound screening protocol for osteochondrosis at selected predilection sites in thoroughbred yearlings. Ir Vet J, 75(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-022-00216-7

Publication

Irish veterinary journal
ISSN: 2046-0481
NlmUniqueID: 0100762
Country: Ireland
Language: English
Volume: 75
Issue: 1
Pages: 8
PII: 8

Researcher Affiliations

Hoey, Seamus
  • Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. seamus.hoey@ucd.ie.
O'Sullivan, Jeremiah
  • Clinic na gCapall, Farranacurragh, Oldleighin, Co. Carlow, Ireland.
Byrne, Jennifer
  • Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Devine, Sinead
  • Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Toomey, William
  • Clinic na gCapall, Farranacurragh, Oldleighin, Co. Carlow, Ireland.
McAllister, Hester
  • Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Skelly, Cliona
  • Equine Clinical Studies, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311965pubmed: 39392827google scholar: lookup
  2. Hoey S, Fogarty U, McAllister H, Puggioni A, Cloak B, Richard H, Skelly C, Laverty S. Ultrasonographic assessment of equine metacarpal cartilage thickness is more accurate than computed tomographic arthrography. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Jan;66(1):e13444.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.13444pubmed: 39367616google scholar: lookup
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