Studies on the Pathogenesis of Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Chickens. III. Effect of Body Weight

Abstract

Surgical severance of the gastrocnemius and flexor tendons on the posterior aspect of the tibiotarsal-tarsometatarsal joint in one leg resulted in unilateral lameness in chickens that were susceptible to tibial dyschondroplasia. Perotic-like deformation developed in the operated leg, while the tibiotarsus in the unoperated leg was thicker and bowed in an anterior direction. In nine of 43 chickens with tibial dyschondroplasia the severity of the lesion differed markedly between the operated and unoperated legs. The more severe lesion was in the operated leg in 6 birds, and in the unoperated leg in 3 birds. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that weight-bearing may be important in the pathogenesis of tibial dyschondroplasia.