Is there a relationship between clinical presentation, diagnostic and radiographic findings and outcome in horses with osteoarthritis of the small tarsal joints? Export

@article{citeulike:4636822, abstract = {REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Despite the possibility that sound horses may have radiographic signs consistent with osteoarthritis of the small tarsal joints (OA-STJ), a diagnosis of 'bone spavin' as a cause of lameness is often made based only on radiographic examination. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether severity of radiographic change and response to treatment are correlated with the duration and degree of lameness and the response to intraarticular anaesthesia in horses with OA-STJ. METHODS: A retrospective study of all horses that showed a positive response to intra-articular anaesthesia of the STJ was performed. Details of history, clinical presentation and diagnostic findings were recorded. Radiographs of affected tarsi were evaluated and scored independently by 2 observers. Follow-up was via a telephone questionnaire with the owner. Statistical analysis was used to assess the association between the duration and degree of lameness, the response to intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings. Response to treatment was compared with the findings from the diagnostic work-up. RESULTS: Ninety-one horses were included (61 unilateral and 30 bilateral lameness). Fifty-nine percent of horses had been lame for over 2 months. There was no association between the duration and degree of lameness, or between duration or degree of lameness, intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings. Response to treatment showed a significant positive association with less severe radiographic changes within the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. Follow-up was available for 48\% of cases, with 52\% horses returning to the same level of exercise. CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between the duration and degree of lameness, the response to intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings in horses with OA-STJ. However, horses that improved following treatment tended to have less marked TMT joint pathology. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Response to intra-articular anaesthesia should remain the gold standard for diagnosis of OA-STJ. Predicting which cases are likely to improve following treatment remains difficult.}, author = {Byam-Cook, K. L. and Singer, E. R.}, citeulike-article-id = {4636822}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19418738}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19418738}, issn = {0425-1644}, journal = {Equine veterinary journal}, keywords = {equine, osteoarthritis, radiography, tarsus}, month = {February}, number = {2}, pages = {118--123}, posted-at = {2009-05-26 18:46:45}, priority = {2}, title = {Is there a relationship between clinical presentation, diagnostic and radiographic findings and outcome in horses with osteoarthritis of the small tarsal joints?}, url = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19418738}, volume = {41}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4636822 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4636822 N2 - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Despite the possibility that sound horses may have radiographic signs consistent with osteoarthritis of the small tarsal joints (OA-STJ), a diagnosis of 'bone spavin' as a cause of lameness is often made based only on radiographic examination. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether severity of radiographic change and response to treatment are correlated with the duration and degree of lameness and the response to intraarticular anaesthesia in horses with OA-STJ. METHODS: A retrospective study of all horses that showed a positive response to intra-articular anaesthesia of the STJ was performed. Details of history, clinical presentation and diagnostic findings were recorded. Radiographs of affected tarsi were evaluated and scored independently by 2 observers. Follow-up was via a telephone questionnaire with the owner. Statistical analysis was used to assess the association between the duration and degree of lameness, the response to intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings. Response to treatment was compared with the findings from the diagnostic work-up. RESULTS: Ninety-one horses were included (61 unilateral and 30 bilateral lameness). Fifty-nine percent of horses had been lame for over 2 months. There was no association between the duration and degree of lameness, or between duration or degree of lameness, intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings. Response to treatment showed a significant positive association with less severe radiographic changes within the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint. Follow-up was available for 48% of cases, with 52% horses returning to the same level of exercise. CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between the duration and degree of lameness, the response to intra-articular anaesthesia and radiographic findings in horses with OA-STJ. However, horses that improved following treatment tended to have less marked TMT joint pathology. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Response to intra-articular anaesthesia should remain the gold standard for diagnosis of OA-STJ. Predicting which cases are likely to improve following treatment remains difficult. IS - 2 JF - Equine veterinary journal SN - 0425-1644 EP - 123 TI - Is there a relationship between clinical presentation, diagnostic and radiographic findings and outcome in horses with osteoarthritis of the small tarsal joints? VL - 41 SP - 118 KW - equine KW - osteoarthritis KW - radiography KW - tarsus AU - Byam-Cook, KL AU - Singer, ER PY - 2009/02// UR - http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19418738 ER -