Environmental factors of equine osteochondrosis and fetlock osteochondral fragments: A scoping review - Part 1.
Authors: Van Mol B, Oosterlinck M, Janssens S, Buys N, Pille F
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Environmental Risk Factors in Equine Osteochondrosis: What the Evidence Shows Osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joint represent significant orthopaedic challenges in equine practice, yet their aetiopathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Van Mol and colleagues conducted an extensive scoping review of 212 peer-reviewed studies to synthesise current evidence on environmental contributors to these conditions, deliberately excluding genetic factors to allow thorough examination of modifiable risk factors. Environmental influences span a broad spectrum—from foetal programming and biomechanical trauma through exercise, growth patterns, and anatomical conformation, to nutrition, weaning practices, hormonal status, and bacterial infection—each with varying levels of research support and clinical relevance. The authors emphasise that whilst individual environmental factors have been studied, their complex interactions and relative importance remain poorly characterised, partly due to inconsistent phenotype definitions across studies and a scarcity of longitudinal research in several domains. For practitioners seeking to reduce osteochondral disease prevalence, this review underscores the necessity of multifactorial management strategies rather than isolated interventions, whilst highlighting critical gaps where evidence-based guidance remains limited and future investigation is urgently needed to translate research into effective preventative protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Management strategies should address multiple environmental risk factors simultaneously (exercise regimens, nutrition, growth rates, anatomic considerations) rather than single-factor interventions, as osteochondral disorders result from complex interactions
- •Early intervention during foetal programming and growth phases may be critical; monitor mares during pregnancy and implement evidence-based management for young horses to minimize osteochondral disease risk
- •Work with veterinarians and nutritionists to optimize feeding programs and exercise protocols tailored to individual conformation and growth patterns, as these factors significantly influence fetlock osteochondral fragment development
Key Findings
- •212 studies identified demonstrating environmental factors significantly influence equine osteochondral disorder pathogenesis alongside genetic factors
- •Environmental risk factors categorized into 11 domains: foetal programming, biomechanical trauma, exercise, growth, anatomic conformation, nutrition, weaning, hormonal factors, bacterial infection, sex, and date of birth
- •Complex multifactorial etiopathogenesis requires longitudinal studies with precise phenotype definitions to elucidate relationships between environmental factors and osteochondral disorders
- •Knowledge gaps persist in multiple domains requiring future multidisciplinary research to develop effective management strategies for equine orthopaedic health