The role of subchondral bone in joint disease: a review

Abstract

Summary Subchondral bone plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteochondral damage and osteoarthritis in horses and humans. Osteochondral fragmentation and fracture, subchondral bone necrosis and osteoarthritis are common diseases in athletic horses, and subchondral bone is now thought to play an integral role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. There have been numerous research efforts focused on articular cartilage damage and its pathogenesis, yet comparatively little effort focused on subchondral bone pathology or the coordinated disease states of the osteochondral tissues. The purpose of this report is to review the current understanding of osteochondral disease in all species and its application to equine research and practice. It can be concluded from this review that our current understanding of osteochondral disease is based on clinical and pathological sources; and that the lack of information about joint tissue adaptation and disease has hampered objective studies of osteochondral tissues.

Subchondral screw abutment: does it harm the joint cartilage? An in vivo study on sheep tibiae

“…It is a matter of fact that subchondral sclerosis leads to progression of cartilage damage as observed in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis [1][2][3][4][5]. The function of the trabecular bone as shock absorber for the joint cartilage decreases [6,7]. Higher shear stresses within the cartilage are generated through the hardening of the bony bottom chord and increase the damage of the cartilage [1,8].…”

Osteochondrosis Can Lead to Formation of Pseudocysts and True Cysts in the Subchondral Bone of Horses

“…17,28,37,46 In histologic sections, most cysts are located within epiphyseal trabecular bone, rather than the thin layer of compact bone that is readily identifiable in mature individuals and known as the subchondral bone plate. 21 It might be less ambiguous to refer to the cysts as epiphyseal bone cysts, but the term that is most commonly used in the literature and therefore most universally recognized is subchondral bone cysts. Subchondral bone cysts can arise through a number of different mechanisms 51 and have been observed following septic arthritis, 14,15 osteomyelitis, 15 osteoarthritis, 44 and spontaneously occurring 42,48,52 and experimentally induced trauma.…”

Osteoarthritis in horses - Part 1: relationship between clinical and radiographic examination for the diagnosis

“…Although there are many epidemiological studies addressing the prevalence of the disorder, there are reports of its high incidence (more than 80%) even in Mangalarga Marchador foals aged between 12 and 36 months (Garcia et al 2009), which proves that this condition affects adult and elderly horses, but can also develop in young horses and foals (McIIwraith 1982;Riggs et al 1999;Kawcak et al 2001, Garcia et al 2009). It is due, in many cases, to the premature start of horse training during the early stages of musculoskeletal system development or due to excessive and/or prolonged mechanical loads on immature articular cartilage, with periarticular tissues inadequately developed to support intense loads (Garcia et al 2009).…”