Premium
Osteochondral dysplasia of the coxofemoral joints in a F riesian foal: Clinical findings and methods of diagnosis
Author(s) -
Hermans H.,
Veraa S.,
Ploeg M.,
Boerma S.,
Hazewinkel H. A. W.,
Back W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12210
Subject(s) - medicine , foal , lameness , hip dysplasia , pelvis , joint disease , osteoarthritis , dysplasia , radiology , radiography , pathology , history , alternative medicine , archaeology
Summary Diseases of the coxofemoral (hip) joint are infrequently diagnosed in horses. Most cases are presented as an unilateral condition and usually are of traumatic origin. This case report describes a F riesian foal with a clinically obvious thoracolumbar kyphosis, combined with a weight‐shifting stance and a shortened stride of both hindlimbs. General clinical and lameness examinations, computed tomographic examination of the pelvis, and macroscopic and histopathological examinations of the coxofemoral joints were performed. This revealed a final, phenotypical diagnosis of a primary osteochondral dysplasia of both coxofemoral joints with secondary osteoarthritis. Similar to the occurrence of this condition in other species and considering the small genetic basis of the Friesian horse breed, a genetic predisposing factor is suspected to play a key role in the developing mechanism of dysplastic coxofemoral joint disease in horses as illustrated with this case. Computed tomography scanning appears to be a useful imaging technique in the detection of coxofemoral joint disease in small horses and foals.