Osteochondrosis in the horse. I. A clinical and radiologic investigation of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee and hock joint
Strömberg, B.; Rejnö, S.
Acta Radiologica. Supplementum 358: 139-152
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-5954 PMID: 233593 Document Number: 134591
An account of clinical and radiologic features of osteochondritis dissecans in the stifle and hock joint of 91 horses, 43 of which had the lesion in one or both stifle joints, and 48 in one or both hock joints. Disease of the stifle joint was more common than in the hock joint in Thoroughbreds and halfbreds, while the lesion in the hock joint was most common in Standardbred trotters. The stifle lesion was most often located to the lateral trochlear ridge. In the hock joint the predilection site was the intermediate ridge of the tibia. Prognosis was more guarded in horses with stifle joint involvement, regardless of whether or not surgical treatment was attempted. Arthrotomy and removal of fragments in the osteochondral defects or of loose bodies was the standard surgical procedure. This treatment improved prognosis somewhat, particularly in the horses with hock joint lesions. Further investigation of aetiology and pathogenesis was required.