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later revealed chronic lameness with a global improvement following surgery. The owner declined further clinical or imaging follow-up. Comments The authors reported here an unusual localization of an osteochondrosis lesion in the trochlear notch
, osteochondrosis (ie, dyschondroplasia) has a substantial impact on equine performance, industry economics, and welfare. 1–4 The disease is characterized by a failure of endochondral ossification occurring at the physes and the articularepiphyseal cartilage
Osteochondrosis has been described as a disturbance in endochondral ossification in fast-growing animal species and humans. 1,2 Suspected etiologic factors for osteochondrosis in horses include genetic predisposition, endocrinologic dysfunction
Osteochondrosis, a failure in the endochondral ossification of cartilage to bone, 1,2 remains a common problem among growing swine in approximately 85% to 90% of all pigs. 3,4 Osteochondrosis lesions in pigs are similar to lesions in other
SUMMARY
Thirty-six of 50 young equids examined at necropsy for gross pathologic and histopathologic evidence of osteochondrosis were determined to have lesions characteristic of this disorder in the distal joints of the tarsus. Abnormalities ranged from retained endochondral cores underlying undisturbed articular cartilage surfaces to clefts, subchondral osseous cyst-like lesions, and cartilage ulceration. Our findings supported the conclusion that osteochondrosis may cause spavin in the juvenile equid.
Osteochondrosis involves the failure of endochondral ossification during bone formation, which results in cartilage retention in the subchondral bone. 1,2 Osteochondrosis can be the cause of increased frequency of lameness in sow herds 3,4 and
Osteochondrosis and OCD, which is a consequence of osteochondrosis, are caused by disturbances in enchondral ossification. 1–3 Once the cartilage exceeds a certain thickness, deeper layers of cartilage can no longer be nourished. This leads to
Objective
To summarize the radiographic and clinical findings, treatment, and outcome in cattle with osteochondrosis diagnosed radiographically.
Design
Retrospective case series.
Sample Population
29 cattle with radiographic evidence of osteochondrosis.
Procedures
Medical records were reviewed, and owners or referring veterinarians were contacted for outcome assessment. Data were analyzed for potential interactions between osteochondrosis classification (osteochondritis dessicans vs subchondral cyst-like lesions), clinical and radiographic findings, treatment, and outcome, using Fisher’s exact test and descriptive statistics.
Results
Osteochondrosis was associated with young, male, purebred cattle, clinical evidence of lameness, and radiographic evidence of concurrent degenerative joint disease. Osteochondritis dissecans and subchondral cyst-like lesions had similar clinical findings and outcomes but varied significantly in their radiographic distribution among joints. Osteochondrosis often manifests clinically as a unilateral condition, but bilateral lesions were often found (88%) when limbs were radiographically examined. Cattle managed conservatively tended to be culled (within 6 months of diagnosis because of lameness) more often than those managed surgically, despite the lack of treatment bias.
Clinical Implications
Osteochondrosis in cattle is often associated with lameness or degenerative joint disease. Conservative management does not result in a favorable clinical prognosis for long-term, lameness-free survival, and more studies need to be completed to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment of osteochondrosis in cattle. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;211:1566–1570)
SUMMARY
We compared the frequency and severity of osteochondrosis lesions in young Thoroughbred horses with cervical stenotic myelopathy (csm) vs that in clinically normal Thoroughbreds of the same age. All lesions of the cervical vertebrae and appendicular skeleton were classified histologically as osteochondrosis or nonosteochondrosis and were measured for severity. Minimal sagittal diameter was significantly smaller in horses with csm from C2 through C6; no difference was detected at C7. Severity of cervical vertebral osteochondrosis was greater in the horses with csm, however frequency was not different. Frequency and severity of nonosteochondrosis lesions were not different in cervical vertebrae or appendicular skeleton. Frequency and severity of appendicular skeleton osteochondrosis lesions were both greater in horses with csm. Osteochondrosis and nonosteochondrosis lesions were more severe on facets at sites of compression than on facets at noncompressed sites in horses with csm. However, compression was also observed at sites with no articular facet lesions. The association of widespread osteochondrosis and spinal canal narrowing with csm suggests csm may represent a systemic failure in the development or maturation of cartilage and bone.
Summary
In 62 dogs, the size of 104 subchondral osteochondrosis lesions, expressed as a percentage of the width of the humeral head (the length of the axis from the intertubercular groove to the edge of the humeral head), was significantly (P < 0.0001) different in joints with intact vs ruptured articular cartilage and in joints associated with vs without clinical signs. The status of the articular cartilage covering the subchondral defect was evaluated by use of positive-contrast arthrography.
