Radiological investigations of osteochondrosis dissecans in Standardbred Trotters and Swedish Warmblood horses

Abstract

Standardbred Totters (106) and 27 Swedish Warmblood horses, with a radiological diagnosis of osteochondrosis dissecans, were studied over 6 yr. The majority were young horses. No statistical difference in frequency between the sexes was demonstrated. In both breeds osteochondrosis was most common in the hock joints, the site of predilection being the distal dorsal tip of the intermediate tibial ridge. On radiographs the lesions of the hock joints were graded on a scale from 0-5 according to size, number and localization of defects and visible loose bodies. The sizes of the loose bodies estimated radiologically were fairly closely correlated with those found at surgery or autopsy.