In horses, OCD lesions are more commonly found in which joints?

In horses, OCD lesions are more commonly found in which joints?

• A. In the femorotibial or tibiotarsal joints.
• B. In the shoulder joint.
• C. In the carpus.
• D. In the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Answer: (A)

OCD lesions in horses arise from a disruption of normal endochondral ossification in developing cartilage, and they most commonly show up in joints that bear the heaviest loads as the horse grows. The hind limb joints—the femorotibial (stifle) and the tibiotarsal (hock) joints—are subjected to substantial compressive and shear forces during growth and exercise. That intense, repetitive stress makes the articular cartilage and underlying subchondral bone more vulnerable to the OC process, so lesions are seen there more often than in other joints. In contrast, joints like the shoulder, carpus, or fetlock experience relatively different loading patterns or lower overall stress during development, so OCD lesions are less common in them.

OCD lesions in horses arise from a disruption of normal endochondral ossification in developing cartilage, and they most commonly show up in joints that bear the heaviest loads as the horse grows. The hind limb joints—the femorotibial (stifle) and the tibiotarsal (hock) joints—are subjected to substantial compressive and shear forces during growth and exercise. That intense, repetitive stress makes the articular cartilage and underlying subchondral bone more vulnerable to the OC process, so lesions are seen there more often than in other joints.

In contrast, joints like the shoulder, carpus, or fetlock experience relatively different loading patterns or lower overall stress during development, so OCD lesions are less common in them.