Joint Disease

The purpose of this study was to describe pathological changes of the shoulder, elbow, hip and stifle joints of 16 museum skeletons of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). The subjects had been held in long-term captivity and were probably used for fur farming or research, thus allowing sufficient longevity for joint disease to become recognisable. The prevalence of disorders that include osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis and changes compatible with hip dysplasia, was surprisingly high. Other changes that reflect near-normal or mild pathological conditions, including prominent articular margins and mild bony periarticular rim, were also prevalent. Our data form a basis for comparing joint pathology of captive raccoon dogs with other mammals and also suggest that contributing roles of captivity and genetic predisposition should be explored further in non-domestic canids.

The analysis of the location of degenerative lesions in the glenohumeral and hip joints of a large sample of post-medieval skeletons has revealed that the stable and mobile components of the ball-and-socket joints are differentially affected. The glenoid fossa and the acetabulum were consistently more affected by degeneration than the head of the humerus and femur. These joints are similar, but their architecture and biomechanics differ. The former is a shallow joint, whereas in the latter the head is embedded into the acetabulum. They also differ in the size of their respective elements and the soft tissue that stabilises the joints.
This study attempts to explain the reasons behind the preferential distribution of lesions in anatomical locations, rather than the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that cause degeneration. This research included 539 individuals from rural and urban sites located in the North of England. The pattern described above was consistent across all sites and in all the demographic categories. This indicates that factors other than geography or demography must be involved in the anatomical distribution of degenerative features. This pattern has been observed in a limited number of paleopathological studies, but has never been examined in depth or explained. Osteophytes are the most common lesion observed and are the source of the pattern. This research will present an overview of biomechanical, clinical and paleopathological evidence and a possible explanation is suggested for the importance of osteophytes when examining anatomical patterning of lesions.