Joints Degenerative - Pathology

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Cervicospinal arthropathy

• = "Wobbler" in horses
• Usually presents in first two years of life
• Mainly in fast growing thouroughbreds
• Most common site is C3-C4, can occur anywhere
• Abnormal laxity between the vertebrae + cervical vertebral malformation may be evident
• Osteophyte formation at edges of synovial components of joint
• Some due to stenosis of neural canal later in life (1-4 years of age)
• Clinical signs:
  • Ataxia - hindlimbs more affected
• Presumed cause is rapid growth

Spondylosis

Spondylosis (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

• Often in bulls and dogs, occurs also in horses, cats and pigs
• Osteophyte formation on ventral aspect of vertebrae
  • Often around lumbar region
  • Adjacent to intervertebral spaces
  • Varies in size - small spurs -> 'bridges' between vertebrae
  • May extend over few vertebrae
• Pathogenesis:
  • Repeated abnormal movement between joints -> stress
  • -> Degeneration of annulus fibrosis
  • -> Osteophyte formation
• In dogs usually no symptoms
• In bulls may cause inability to mount
• In severe cases repeated damage may progress to recurrent posterior weakness and ataxia in conjuction with fractures of spondylitic and vertebral bone

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture

• Autoantibodies against collagens seen in the joint fluid – no relationship to the disease (ie: not an autoimmune disease) – can be seen in any joint disease

Steroid arthropathy

• From glucocorticoids injected into joint as antiinflammatories
• Injection sometimes causes rapid progression of degeneration
• Glucocortyicois suppress anabolic effect of chondrocytes -> reduction of cartilage matrix syhthesis -> proteoglycan depletion -> slower repair