Radiological and macroscopic determination of articular disorders of the tarsus in bulls

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the presence of joint lesions in tarsi of bulls of meat breeds. Twenty-two (twenty-two) tarsi from bulls between 18 months and 6 years of age were used, of meat breeds and their crosses, obtained from slaughterhouses in the towns of Rio Tercero and Rio Cuarto. The radiological examination consisted of three (3) radiographic projections, a Dorso-Plantar or forehead, a Dorsolateral - Plantaromedial Oblique 45° (DLPMO 45º) and a Dorsomedial - Plantarolateral Oblique 45º (DMPLO 45º). Subsequently, the conventional anatomical dissectio n of each tarsus was performed. Once all the bone components were exposed, a detailed inspection of each of them was performed. The results obtained in the radiological study showed that in 20 of the 22 tarsi there was presence of joint lesions, finding signs of osteoarthritis and osteochondritis. Regarding the macroscopic inspection, lesions were found in the 22 tarsi studied. Oteochondritis dissecans lesions were found in 21 tarsi , while in 22 tarsi there were lesions compatible with osteoarthritis. It can be concluded that the bulls suffer from osteochondritis dissecans and osteoarthritis in their tarsi, while osteochondritis dissecans and osteoarthritis settle mainly in the tibial-talar joint.