Le Patologie ortopediche di sviluppo del cavallo sportivo: screening radiografico in cavalli allevati in belgio ed in cavalli allevati in Sardegna

Radiographic screening in young horses is an useful tool for early detection of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD), a worrying problem for owners, trainers and veterinaries. Radiographies of 700 horses (676 in Belgium, 24 in Sardinian) have been examined to study prevalences of most common pathologies (Studio I), correlation between foot conformation and presence of effusion at the distal interphalangeal joint (Studio II), usefulness of LM view in detection of DOD at the hock (Studio III). The horses were 3-4 years of age, free of lameness. DOD of osteochondral and degenerative type showed the highest prevalences and were found mostly in stifle and hock joints of the belgian group while front feet and fetlocks were more affected in the sardinian group. Effusion at the distal interphalangeal joint was positively correlated with foot conformation with low distal phalanx angle, low hoof angle, long toe and low heels, suggesting the need of proper corrective trimming of the hoof before the beginning of their training in order to prevent improper mechanical stress. In the radiographic examination of the hock, the LM view provides the largest number of radiographic signs for the diagnosis of lesions with the exception of osteochondrosis of tibial malleolus, compared with each one of the other views. Good agreement between readers of different experience demonstrated the usefulness of an evaluation grid to be available during selection of horses for reproducing purposes.