Osteochondritis Dissecans

Endochondral ossification is a normal bone growth process in which cartilage is replaced by bone throughout the early stages of fetal development.

Osteochondrosis is a pathological disorder that disrupts normal endochondral ossification or the transformation of cartilage to bone.

The disruption is frequently caused by a disruption in the blood flow to the bone.

As a result, extra cartilage is retained at the site because the process of endochondral ossification is halted, yet cartilage continues to grow.

As a result, unusually thick cartilage patches are formed, which are less resistant to mechanical stress than the stronger and denser bone.

The ideal diagnostic technique for this condition is radiography imaging; your vet will take numerous x-rays of the problematic joints and bones to best distinguish any abnormalities.

Radiographs may reveal details of lesions and anomalies associated with this disease.

CT-scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are very useful diagnostic methods for determining the degree of any internal lesions.