Avaliação radiológica da condição osteocondral de potros da raça brasileiro de hipismo

Abstract

Juvenile osteochondral condition (JOCC), characterized by a set of osteochondral alterations with similar pathophysiology, affect the immature skeleton and joints of foals. The breed Brasileiro de Hipismo (Brazilian Warmblood breed, BH) is the result of miscegenation of european breeds. Its use in sports practice is widespread in Brazil. There is little research on diseases that afflict this breed, especially in relation to the juvenile osteochondral condition. The identification of possible causes that can interfere in the athletic performance of BH horses, while still foals, is important as a great amount of money have been invested in the genetic development of this breed. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of osteochondral alterations in BH foals and, to detect possible risk factors involved in the development of these alterations. Thus, 78 young horses of three different generations, ranging in age from 16 to 36 months and born between 2012 and 2014 were radiologically evaluated. The metacarpophalangeal, carpal, metatarsophalangeal, tarsus and stifle joints were included in the evaluation. Data such as the horse’s month and year of birth, gender, stallion, mare, mare’s age and birth defects were collected to evaluate the influence of these factors on the occurrence of osteochondral alterations. Eighty-one joints were observed having alterations of juvenile osteochondral condition in 45 horses (57%). Among the 45 horses, 56% (n = 25) presented alterations in more than one joint, 48%, 12 of which presented bilateral lesions. The metatarsophalangeal joints (28%) and tarsus (25%) were the sites with the highest occurrence of osteochondral alterations, followed by the metacarpophalangeal joints (19%), stifle (8%) and carpus (6%). As to the degree of severity of the identified lesions, the joints that presented more severe alterations were the metatarsophalangeal, metacarpophalangeal joints followed by the femorotibiopatellar , tarsus and carpal joints. The most frequent lesions observed in the affected horses were osteochondral fragments (60%), tarsal arthropathy (44%) at the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints, irregularities and radioluscencies in the stifle joint (6%) subchondral cystic lesions (2%). Regarding the risk factors, there was no difference between the factors considering the osteochondral alterations observed. Therefore, we conclude that young BH horses show ostheochondral alterations with a considerable prevalence. The metatarsophalangeal and tarsal joints are the most affected and the metatarsophalangeal and metacarpophalangeal present the most severe lesions. These results emphasize the importance of the use of radiological evaluations as an early diagnostic tool in this breed, as well as the realization of a greater number of radiographic projections contribute to a better assessment of the joint.