early in life during athletic careers is also shown that is can delay the development of OA later in a horses life. The 2 most well-known DJD/OA conditions are: Ringbone
Bone spavin
Ankylosis Ankylosis is defined as the joining, or
, of two previously articulating bones.
Ankylosis is often caused by chronic DJD in a low range of motion joint but may be induced by the injection of irritating substances into a joint. If ankylosis is medically induced it is called . Irritation and inflammation of a joint trigger exostosis and enthesiophyte and osteophyte formation. Over time these processes join the two bones that were previously separated by the joint space. During the ankylosis process there is inflammation and pain, but once the fusion is complete there is a significant reduction in pain.
Predispositions include poor joint conformation, concussive activities, age and low range of motion joints.
Clinically, ankylosis is seen as a lameness where there is a lack of range of motion of a joint. The ankylosed joint shows a reduction or elimination of pain and is stabilized.
Diagnosis of ankylosis is made radiographically.
There is no treatment for ankylosis, it is usually considered desirable in low motion joints that have chronic inflammation.
Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) Developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) is the name given to a group of disorders involving the bones and joints of individuals. There is a disruption in the physiological process that initiates the development of cartilage into bone. Conditions included under the description of developmental orthopaedic disease include: osteochondrosis osteochondritis dissecans angular limb deformity flexural limb deformity (Ch. 17) physeal dysplasia & physeal fracture septic arthritis occipital-atlantal-axial malformation cervical vertebral malformation
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