Page 355 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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• increased density of the bone immediately below the area of damaged cartilage
• development of bony spurs or osteophytes around the joint margin; these are covered
VetBooks.ir with hyaline or fibrocartilage and are thought to develop as an attempt to stabilize a joint
by increasing the surface contact area.
Figures 8.6a and b X-rays showing a) severe degenerative joint disease in the knee. The joint spaces have been obliterated
and new bone has formed across the knee and b) DJD in the hock
If the course of the disease is unchecked, eventually the underlying bone may become less
dense due to resorption or lysis, and weakened leading to fragmentation. The end result is
ankylosis where the joint space is totally destroyed and the bones become permanently fused
together.
Clinical signs
These are variable, depending on the cause of the problem and the joint(s) affected. There
may be:
