The effects of copper supplementation on the prevalence of cartilage lesions in foals

The potential role of dietary copper in the development of cartilage defects in foals was investigated. Twenty-one mares were fed rations containing 13 ppm copper (CuC, control) or 32 ppm copper (CuS, supplemented) during the last three to six months of gestation and first three months of lactation. Their foals were fed pelleted concentrate containing 15 or 55 ppm Cu and were destroyed at 90 (5 CuC and 5 CuS foals) or 180 (6 CuC and 5 CuS foals) days. Focal cartilage lesions were found at multiple sites on necropsy. In foals killed at 90 days, there were over twice (9 versus 4) as many lesions of osteochondrosis and more than four times (9 versus 2) as many articular lesions of osteophyte formation or thinning in CuC foals compared with CuS foals. These differences were due predominantly to a higher number of lesions in one CuC foal. Two 90-day CuC foals had osteochondrosis of articular-epiphyseal (A-E) complex, one with thickenings and separation from subchondral bone and one with subchondral fibrosis. One 90-day CuS foal had a cartilage thickening of the A-E complex in the tibiotarsal joint with separation from subchondral bone. In foals killed at 180 days, there were seven times more articular lesions (21 versus 3) of osteophyte formation or thinning, nearly twice as many lesions of osteochondrosis (13 versus 8) [corrected] in the physis and over five times as many involving the A-E complex (11 versus 2) in six CuC foals compared with five CuS foals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus in seven Rottweiler dogs

Eleven lesions of osteochondrosis in the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus were diagnosed in seven young Rottweiler dogs. Diagnosis was based on clinical and radiographic evaluations. Defects in the lateral trochlear ridge and osteochondral fragments arising from the dorsal and proximal margins of the ridge were visible radiographically. The dorsal 45 degrees lateral-plantaromedial oblique (D45 degrees L-P1MO) projection was the most useful in identifying the lesions. Exploratory arthrotomies were performed in six affected tarsi. In three cases, histologic examination revealed mineralized osteochondral fragments consistent with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis.

Evaluation of the prognostic value of positive-contrast shoulder arthrography for bilateral osteochondrosis lesions in dogs

To investigate whether arthrographic findings had any prognostic value with respect to treatment and outcome of bilateral osteochondrosis, shoulder arthrograms (n = 80) from 40 dogs with bilateral lesions were evaluated. Arthrography was performed, using 1.5 to 4 ml of a 25% solution of meglumine-sodium diatrizoate, with admixture of 0.2 mg of epinephrine. A shoulder with signs of pain and lameness was surgically treated. The contralateral shoulder was treated conservatively, and the final outcome was compared with the arthrographic findings. In 37 dogs, signs of lameness and pain were associated with a loose cartilage flap and, in 3, with a detached cartilage flap. In 2 dogs, admitted with bilateral lameness, a loose cartilage flap was detected in both shoulders. Of 12 dogs with a detectable loose cartilage flap in the contralateral shoulder joint, 6 became lame 2 to 4 months after initial surgical intervention and needed bilateral surgery. In the contralateral joint, development of thick articular cartilage over the subchondral defect or a detached cartilage flap lodged in the caudal pouch of the shoulder joint was a favorable prognostic sign. Such dogs had no signs of lameness on the contralateral side during a follow-up period that ranged from 1 to 7 years.

Acquired chondronecrosis

Zonal necrosis of chondrocytes is a characteristic feature of Kashin-Beck disease. Inferences about chondronecrosis in several spontaneous and experimental arthropathies of other species may be relevant to the cause of Kashin-Beck disease and conceivably, too, banal osteoarthritis in man.

Disturbed endochondral ossification in the axial skeleton of young broiler fowls

Physeal lesions have been studied in thoracic vertebrae (T3, T4 and T5) of 51 broiler fowls between 28 and 53 days old. Vascular perfusion studies performed on 10 birds confirmed that the cartilaginous epiphyses of T3, T4 and T5 were essentially avascular and thus differ from those of the major long bones. Findings confirm the observation that a number of morphologically distinct lesions of osteochondrosis occur in broiler fowls and that, when physeal clefts can be implicated in their aetiology, the term "osteochondrosis" is inappropriate. Although the location of clefts often differs in long bone and vertebral physes, when metaphyseal vessels are disrupted, the end-result on endochondral ossification is the same in both the axial and appendicular skeleton. Other lesions were observed both independently and in association with osteochondrosis. Such lesions include necrotic seams devoid of haemorrhage, acellular foci and chondrolysis, all of which were most frequently observed in the same vertebral end-plates. Because osteochondrosis was also most common in the same vertebral end-plates, a common aetiology is suggested. Surface regressive changes were common in the articular cartilage of T3, T4 and T5, and it is noteworthy that such changes, although common in older birds, are present in birds so young.

Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondritis dissecans in the canine shoulder

Twenty-three shoulders of 21 dogs were treated arthroscopically for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Thirteen dogs had bilateral lesions detectable radiographically; however, only two dogs had arthroscopic surgery on both shoulders. Arthroscopic procedures included removal of the osteochondral flap, curettage of the subchondral defect, and partial synovectomy. Fourteen dogs were using the treated limb within 1 day and eight dogs within 2 days, although some lameness may have persisted for several weeks. Force plate evaluation was effective for comparison of preoperative and postoperative mean peak force/body weight (PF/BW) values. Improvement was detected objectively in 9 of the 10 dogs returned for postoperative force plate analysis. All owners were satisfied with the cosmetic results and the rapid return to function.

Conditions of the interphalangeal joints

The various conditions of the interphalangeal joint are presented; these include degenerative joint disease and osteochondral chip fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint, fractures of the middle phalanx affecting proximal and/or distal interphalangeal joints, subluxation and osteochondrosis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, and arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joint.

Development of an equine nuclear medicine facility for gamma camera imaging

A nuclear medicine facility constructed specifically for the application of a gamma camera system to the radioisotope imaging of bone, pulmonary circulation and ventilation in the horse is described. The gamma camera was previously used for human nuclear medicine, and a support for the gamma camera head was specifically designed for this work. Imaging protocols are suggested and the necessary materials for bone and lung studies are described. Images of bone and lung are shown and computer analysis of the data indicated. Imaging times are approximately 1 to 2 mins and typical bone and lung studies can be completed in 20 to 30 mins.

Plasma amino acids in dogs with osteochondrosis or hip dysplasia

Radiography of the hip joints of mature dogs has shown that hip dysplasia is quite common in many middle and large size breeds in Norway. The heritability of hip dysplasia has been estimated in several studies to be between 0.2 and 0.6 (Hedhammar et al 1979). This indicates that environmental factors are important for development and severity of hip dysplasia.

Degeneration of cartilage canal vessels associated with lesions of osteochondrosis in swine

Articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes from the distal femur and humerus of five 3-month-old pigs were collected and preserved using either a conventional or a ruthenium hexammine trichloride (RHT)-supplemented fixation technique. Lesions were similar regardless of the fixation technique. Areas of necrosis were in epiphyseal but not articular cartilage from both sites of all pigs. Cartilage canals were confined to epiphyseal cartilage and contained vessels which had endothelial cells in varying stages of degeneration and necrosis. Areas of necrotic cartilage often were adjacent to or surrounded degenerate cartilage canals. Lipid emboli (up to 40.0 micron in diameter) were infrequently located in vessels within cartilage canals. Associated with the lipid emboli were leukocytes, erythrocytes, necrotic cell remnants, and flocculent material. Restriction of necrosis to epiphyseal cartilage and the association of these necrotic areas with degenerating vessels in cartilage canals strongly implicate a defect in cartilage canal blood supply in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. The RHT fixation technique resulted in excellent cellular detail at the light microscopic level, but ultrastructurally there was marked vacuolation of chondrocytes and matrix. The conventional technique caused shrinkage of all chondrocytes, resulting in a wide halo of pericellular matrix surrounding each cell.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral ridge of the talus in a dog

Osteochondral fragments, which originated from the proximolateral ridge of the talus, were discovered in an 8-month-old Rottweiler. A large fragment was reattached, using a lag screw and wire. Microscopic examination of a small fragment suggested the lesion resulted from osteochondritis dissecans. Stabilization of the major fragment resulted in acceptable joint function.

Bony fragments in the tarsocrural and metacarpo- or metatarsophalangeal joints in the standardbred horse--a radiographic survey

Radiographic examination of the tarsocrural, metacarpo- or metatarsophalangeal joints was made in 139 Standardbred horses. Most were under three years old with no history of orthopaedic problems. In the tarsocrural joint, osteochondrosis was observed in 25 (18.1 percent) of the horses (n = 138) and 14 (56 percent) of these were affected bilaterally. In the metatarsophalangeal joint, the most frequent radiographic abnormality was single or multiple bony fragments or defects at the plantar proximal end of the proximal phalanx, which was noticed in 40 (28.8 percent) of the horses (n = 139). The lesion was much more frequent in the hind than in the forelimbs. Ten percent of horses affected in the hindlimbs had the lesions bilaterally. Palmar or plantar fragments wee also more common in the medial, than the lateral, part of the joint. With regard to osteochondrosis in the tarsocrural joint and palmar or plantar bony fragments in the metacarpo- or metatarsophalangeal joints, no significant differences in incidence were found between sexes or between left and right sides. There was no correlation between findings of osteochondrosis in the tarsocrural joints and the occurrence of bony fragments in the plantar part of the metatarsophalangeal joints. In the forelimbs, bony fragments in the dorsal parts of the metacarpophalangeal joint were noticed in three (2.9 percent) of the horse (n = 103) and the corresponding figure for the metatarsophalangeal joint was three (2.2 percent) (n = 139). In 102 horses, the tarsocrural, the metacarpo- and the metatarsophalangeal joints were radiographed at the same time. One or several joints were affected with osteochondrosis, bony fragments, or defects in underlying bones in 45 (44.1 percent) of these horses.

Experimentally induced cartilaginous fractures (osteochondritis dissecans) in foals fed low-copper diets

Four Thoroughbred foals were weaned from their dams when they were 1 day old and were fed a liquid milk-replacer diet containing approximately 1.7 micrograms of copper/g from plastic buckets for 4 to 7 months. They were kept in stalls with fiberglass walls and asphalt floors covered with rubber pads. Serum copper and zinc concentrations were determined 3 times/week by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and liver copper and zinc concentrations were determined similarly after acid digestion of tissues taken at necropsy. The amount of soluble collagen in articular cartilage and aortic tissue was determined after necropsy. Clinical signs of illness, particularly evidence of lameness, were monitored daily. The foals were weighed weekly, and growth rate was monitored by measurement of height at the withers. Packed cell volumes and total and differential WBC counts were measured each time blood was drawn for copper and zinc concentration determinations. The foals were examined by necropsy at the end of the experiment, and the tissues were examined histologically. The foals developed intermittent, but nondebilitating, diarrhea with the onset of low serum copper concentrations. Considering the totally liquid diet, the foals grew well. Serum copper concentrations decreased to less than 0.1 micrograms/ml in 13 to 16 weeks. Lameness was evident 2 to 6 weeks after serum copper concentrations decreased to their lowest value (less than 0.1 micrograms/ml). All foals developed stilted gaits and ultimately walked on the front of their hooves. Major hematologic changes and alterations of hair color were not evident. Soluble collagen of articular cartilage and aortic tissue increased from 340 to 600% greater than that of control foals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of reduced growth rate on the prevalence and severity of osteochondrosis in gilts

Ninety-six recently weaned gilts were assigned to 3 groups. Group-1 gilts were fed a corn-soybean meal diet ad libitum and were killed when they weighed 110 kg. Gilts in groups 2 and 3 were fed 70% of the feed consumed by group-1 gilts. Group-2 gilts were killed when they weighed 110 kg, and group-3 gilts were killed at the same age as group-1 gilts. At slaughter, the right pelvic and thoracic limbs from all gilts were removed, and the distal end of each femur and humerus was sectioned serially at 5-mm intervals. Articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes from these sites were examined grossly, radiographically, and histologically. Effects of treatment (ad libitum vs limited energy intake) and average daily gain on the prevalence and severity of lesions were analyzed statistically, using chi 2 analysis, a categoric-modeling technique, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficients. Of humeri and femora, 49 and 70%, respectively, had lesions of osteochondrosis, and 86% of the gilts had a lesion at one or both sites. Group-2 gilts (killed at 110 kg, but approx 70 days older than group-1 gilts) had significantly lower prevalence (P = 0.009) and severity (P = 0.002) of osteochondrosis of the distal end of the femur than did gilts in groups 1 and 3. When each group was evaluated individually, gilts that had a higher average daily gain had an increased prevalence and severity of lesions.

Subchondral cystic lesions (osteochondrosis) of the femoral heads in a horse

Bilateral subchondral cystic lesions of the femoral head in a horse resulted in lameness. The lesions had resulted in degenerative disease in the left coxofemoral joint. The cause of lameness was confirmed by use of intra-articular anesthesia, joint fluid analysis, and radiography. Subchondral cystic lesions involving the femoral head should be considered in the differential diagnosis of equine lameness localized in the upper portion of the hind limb.