Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2007; 20(01): 08-11
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1616580
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Comparison of subchondral lesion size between clinical and non-clinical medial trochlear ridge talar osteochondritis dissecans in dogs

I. Gielen
1   Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
,
B. Van Ryssen
1   Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
,
F. Coopman
1   Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
,
H. van Bree
1   Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 April 2005

Accepted 11 March 2006

Publication Date:
21 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

In this retrospective study of nine dogs exhibiting bilateral medial trochlear ridge talar osteochondritis dissecans (MTRT-OCD) and unilateral hind limb lameness, we compared subchondral lesion size in limbs with visible lameness, with contralateral lesions that were not associated with any visible lameness. All MTRT-OCD lesions were imaged by radiography and computed tomography (CT). The dimensions of subchondral bone lesions were measured (length, width and depth) using CT software. Similar to a method used in humans, the estimated volume (length x width x depth) and cross sectional area (length x width) were calculated and compared. We found that MTRT-OCD lesions causing visible lameness were significantly larger, and were associated with more joint thickening and degenerative joint disease than contralateral lesions that were not associated with any apparent lameness. As in the disease of shoulder osteochondritis dissecans, there is probably a correlation between the size of MTRT-OCD lesions and the symptoms of lameness.