Osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal joint in young horses: 6 cases (1997-2006)

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 230; no. 10; pp. 1498 - 1501
• Main Authors: Fjordbakk, C.T, Strand, E, Milde, A.K, Ihler, C.F, Rorvik, A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15-05-2007
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Animals; Arthroscopy - methods; Arthroscopy - veterinary; disease diagnosis; Female; Forelimb; forelimbs; Hindlimb; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horse Diseases - drug therapy; Horse Diseases - surgery; Horses; image analysis; joint diseases; Joint Diseases - diagnosis; Joint Diseases - drug therapy; Joint Diseases - surgery; Joint Diseases - veterinary; Joint Loose Bodies - veterinary; joints (animal); lameness; Lameness, Animal - etiology; legs; Male; osteochondral fragments; Osteochondritis - diagnosis; Osteochondritis - drug therapy; Osteochondritis - surgery; Osteochondritis - veterinary; phalanges; Prognosis; proximal interphalangeal joint; racing performance; Retrospective Studies; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); Toe Joint - injuries; Toe Joint - surgery; Treatment Outcome; young animals
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.230.10.1498

To determine clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in young horses with osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint.
Retrospective case series.
6 horses.
Medical records were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained through telephone conversations with owners or trainers or by examining race records.
Horses were between 1 and 4 years old. Three had bilateral osteochondral fragments in the forelimbs (n = 2 horses) or hind limbs (1). Radiographically, all but 1 fragment seemed to originate from the dorsomedial aspect of the distal end of the first phalanx. Fragment size ranged from 6 x 9 mm to 11 x 21 mm. Three horses had lameness referable to the region of the affected joint; the other 3 horses did not have clinical signs referable to affected PIP joints. Two horses were euthanized shortly after diagnosis at the owners' request because of concerns that the horses would be unsuited for their intended athletic use. Two of the 3 horses in which fragments were incidental findings were able to race successfully, although 1 received intra-articular corticosteroid treatments; the third was retired because of unrelated orthopedic problems.
Results suggested that osteochondral fragments involving the dorsomedial aspect of the PIP joint may be an incidental finding in young horses. Given the absence of clinical signs in 5 of 9 affected joints and the fact that 3 of 6 horses were affected bilaterally, a developmental origin of the fragments was suspected.