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Post by weegiemom on Feb 20, 2013 17:21:14 GMT -5
I have been reading everything I can about them. Some sites speak of them as if they are the same thing, one place said chips can be caused by OCD, it seems each place I look confuses me more.
Can anyone straighten this out for me and is surgery the only way or can it be helped solely with injections. I don't mind doing maintainance but surgery is scary for me!
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Feb 20, 2013 20:20:03 GMT -5
OCD is a developmental disease, seen across all breeds. Basically, the cartilage and underlying supporting bone are irregularly formed and weaker than they should be. Because the joint then doesn't have the proper "gliding" motion, the weak areas can then be further damaged. Sometimes this is just a rough spot. Sometimes it creates a chip, which may remain partially attached or detach completely from the rest of the bone. In all cases, inflammation is a problem and results in arthritis (and further negative changes in the joint).
A bone cyst is caused by a hole in the cartilage that allows joint fluid to seep into the bone, causing erosion and inflammation (and sometimes also inflammation in the joint capsule, since the hole can also let cruddy tissue back away from the damaged bone). Then scar tissue (and more fluid from inflammatory reactions) builds pressure and pain.
Chips are chips. From injury or disease, it's a piece of bone that's no longer attached to its "home".
Treatment varies, with stem cells playing the newest role, but sometimes even surgery isn't enough to return the horse to full soundness. It depends how much damage was already done when the problem was discovered. AFAIK, none of the three problems respond to joint injections. Legend, and other intra-articular drugs reduce inflammation and support/help create healthy joint fluid, but have no effect on damaged bone or cartilage.
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Post by numerologist on Feb 21, 2013 9:30:59 GMT -5
My Andalusian gelding had two bone chips removed last May. He was diagnosed after chasing around in the pasture and coming up 3-legged. During examination, an old chip was found in the same area (RH fetlock). Both were removed. Stall rest, hand walking and slow back to work, but he is now sound and doing great.
My BO's mare is at Cornell today for bone cyst removal; it started to develop when she was about 2, now she is coming 5 and it started to interfere with her movement. It's just below her stifle. Hope all goes well.
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