Osteochondrosis is a common condition of young horses where there is a failure of endochondral ossification, usually at predisposed sites. The estimated prevalence of osteochondrosis is 33–44%, with radiographic screening of yearlings being used to identify lesions. Radiography has two major limitations: poor sensitivity in detecting cartilaginous lesions and secondly, the exposure of the horse and personnel to ionising radiation. Ultrasonography allows imaging of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone margins and has been shown to be more sensitive in identifying osteochondrosis lesions. However, the ultrasonographic technique for examining joints is operator dependant, resulting in highly variable examinations, thus affecting its reliability and reproducibility as a screening test. A prospective observational clinical population study was undertaken involving twenty-two clinically normal weanling thoroughbred horses on-farm, describing a detailed protocol of the ultrasonographic examination technique for on-farm screening of common sites of osteochondral disease in the young horse, namely the carpal, metacarpophalangeal, stifle, tarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints. Two veterinary practitioners used the technique to illustrate the repeatability of the protocol. The step-by-step protocol provides a valuable, reliable, repeatable technique for veterinary professionals performing screening ultrasound in the field.

中文翻译：

---

纯种一岁鸽选定好发部位的骨软骨病超声筛查方案

骨软骨病是年轻马的常见病症，其中软骨内骨化失败，通常在易感部位。骨软骨病的估计患病率为 33-44%，通过对一岁鸽进行放射照相筛查来识别病变。射线照相术有两个主要限制：检测软骨损伤的敏感性差，其次，马和人员暴露于电离辐射。超声检查允许对关节软骨和软骨下骨边缘进行成像，并且已被证明在识别骨软骨病病变方面更敏感。然而，用于检查关节的超声技术依赖于操作者，导致检查高度可变，从而影响其作为筛查测试的可靠性和可重复性。进行了一项前瞻性观察性临床人群研究，涉及农场中 22 匹临床正常断奶的纯种马，描述了在农场筛查年轻马（即腕骨）常见骨软骨疾病部位的超声检查技术的详细方案，掌指关节、膝关节、跗关节和跖趾关节。两名兽医从业者使用该技术来说明该协议的可重复性。分步协议为在现场进行超声筛查的兽医专业人员提供了一种有价值、可靠、可重复的技术。描述了在农场筛查小马常见骨软骨疾病部位的超声检查技术的详细方案，即腕关节、掌指关节、膝关节、跗关节和跖趾关节。两名兽医从业者使用该技术来说明该协议的可重复性。分步协议为在现场进行超声筛查的兽医专业人员提供了一种有价值、可靠、可重复的技术。描述了在农场筛查小马常见骨软骨疾病部位的超声检查技术的详细方案，即腕关节、掌指关节、膝关节、跗关节和跖趾关节。两名兽医从业者使用该技术来说明该协议的可重复性。分步协议为在现场进行超声筛查的兽医专业人员提供了一种有价值、可靠、可重复的技术。