Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most important chronic musculoskeletal disorder in horses. Joint pain (often intermittent) is one of the hallmarks of OA and the major cause of lameness. Numerous processes in the course of OA can contribute to joint pain and very rarely can the precise tissue origin of pain be identified. Synovitis is an important factor, activating mechanoreceptors through joint effusion, swelling and/or fibrosis, and nocireceptors through direct chemical stimulation.
展开▼
