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PIP joint: diseases – overview

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Synonym(s): Proximal interphalangeal joint disease, pastern joint disease

Introduction

  • Incidence: the proximal interphalangeal joint is less commonly associated with lameness than more mobile joints such as the carpus or fetlock, or the foot.
  • Cause: acute or chronic trauma   →   conditions such as osteoarthritis, luxation or fracture.
  • Signs: varies from mild lameness to non-weightbearing. Peri-articular ringbone may be asymptomatic.
  • Diagnosis: clinical examination, radiography   Forelimb: radiography    Hindlimb: radiography  and intra-articular anesthesia   Forelimb: joint anesthesia    Hindlimb: joint anesthesia  are often sufficient.
  • Treatment: depends on cause.
  • Prognosis: depends on cause.

Presenting signs

  • Forelimb or hindlimb lameness, unilateral or bilateral.
  • Localized signs of inflammation.

Age predisposition

  • Osteochondrosis lesions in young horses <4 years old.
  • Flexural deformities in young foals 4 weeks to 4 months old or fast-growing yearlings and weanlings.
  • Osteoarthritis in older working horses, or younger horses secondary to osteochondrosis.

Breed/Species predisposition

  • Incomplete fractures of the proximal articular margin of the proximal phalanx are most commonly seen Standardbred   Standardbred  and Thoroughbred   Thoroughbred  racehorses.
  • Horses used for jumping, dressage and Western-type activities are more prone to osteoarthritis.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

Trauma

Multifactoral

Infectious

Congenital and perinatal conditions

Predisposing factors

General

Pathophysiology

  • The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint is the articulation between the distal aspect of the proximal phalanx and the proximal aspect of the middle phalanx. 
  • Collateral ligaments, abaxial and axial ligaments provide stability to the joint.
  • Several ligaments and tendons course over the pastern region, including the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT).
  • Proximity to the ground, paucity of soft tissue cover dorsally and laterally, the degree of flexion occurring at this site and important soft tissue structures (SDFT, DDFT) on its palmar/plantar surface all contribute to this region being vulnerable to injury.
  • Depends on the individual joint disease.
  • See also Joint: synovial pathobiology   Joint: synovial pathobiology  .

Timecourse

  • Acute onset for fractures, luxations and traumatic lesions.
  • Chronic and insidious onset for osteoarthritis, bone cysts, DJD.

Diagnosis

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Treatment

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Prevention

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Outcomes

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Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  • Garvican E & Clegg P (2007) Clinical aspects of the equine proximal interphalangeal (pastern) joint. UK Vet 12 (6), 11-16 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

  • Ruggles A J (2003) The Proximal and Middle Phalanges and Proximal Interphalangeal Joint. In: Diagnosis & Management of Lameness in the Horse. Eds: Ross M W & Dyson S J. Saunders, USA. pp 342-348.