COMPARISON OF RADIOGRAPHIC SUBCHONDRAL BONE CHANGES WITH ARTHROSCOPICFINDINGS IN THE EQUINE FEMOROPATELLAR AND FEMOROTIBIAL JOINTS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 72 JOINTS (50 HORSES)

Radiographs of 72 femoropatellar and femorotibial joints from 50 horse s were evaluated, Ninety four arthroscopically evaluated areas were gr aded according to a predetermined system, The radiographic grade was t hen compared to arthroscopic findings in the same location. Statistica l analysis was performed to determine the association between the radi ographic subchondral bone changes and arthro scopic findings, Radiogra phically normal areas in the femoropatellar joint were arthroscopicall y positive for cartilaginous changes in 40% of the femoropatellar join ts. Areas of mild subchondral bone flattening (grade I) in the lateral trochlear ridge were arthroscopically positive for cartilage changes 78% of the time, Ninety six percent of moderate to severe subchondral bone changes (grades II-V) were arthroscopically positive for cartilag e damage, This research demonstrates that (1) a significant number of radiographically normal joints will have cartilage changes, (2) areas of mild subchondral bone flattening have cartilage changes present in the majority of cases and (3) areas of moderate to severe subchondral bone changes have arthroscopically detectable cartilage changes presen t.