Meniscal lesions in knee joints of broiler fowls.
Post-mortem examination of the knee joints of 28 broiler type fowls revealed abnormalities in one or both medial menisci. Certain abnormalities appeared to be associated with knee ligament disruption. These included torn or frayed menisci and those which were displaced, usually in a mesial direction. Histopathological studies revealed that each of these abnormalities was normally associated with degenerative meniscal lesions. Other meniscal abnormalities showed no association with knee ligament disruption. Such menisci can be regarded as being of aberrant shape and most commonly the medial meniscus was enlarged and "discoid". Discoid medial menisci frequently showed histological abnormalities. As in other species, it is suggested that discoid menisci are predisposed to injury probably because of their larger contact area.
Duff
S R
SR
Agricultural and Food Research Council's Poultry Research Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, U.K.
D000818:Animals; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007596:Joints / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology*