Clinical historyAn 11 year old quarter horse had a chronic lameness of the left fore leg. An obvious firm swelling was detected dorsally on palpation The duration of lameness was difficult to determine because of frequent periods of rest following earlier episodes of rather acute lameness. Both forefeet were radiographed.Left proximal interphalangeal joint Right proximal interphalangeal jointRadiographic featuresLeft
- Narrowing of joint space
- Subchondral bone sclerosis
- Periarticular osteophytosis
- Soft tissue swelling
- Progressive joint ankylosis
- No evidence of angular limb deformity
Right
- Radiographically normal
Radiographic diagnosis
- Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis, degenerative joint disease, DJD, “high ringbone”) with progressive arthrodesis.
- Arthrodesis is often noted in advanced oint disease particularly with extensive eriarticular proliferation and extensive oss of joint space as seen in this case.
CommentsHorses used for jumping, dressage, and estern-type activities are reported tobe prone to high ringbone. It is also a onsequence of articular fracture, infection, or osteochondrosis. In this orse, there is nothing on the radiographs to suggest any of these tiologies. Immediate post operative study Joint disease It may be valuable to compare the productive, modelling radiographic features in this case that has a noninflammatory joint disease with the case from last month in which the changes were destructive and the etiology was infectious (inflammatory).
