Dietary supplementation with glycosaminoglycans reduces locomotor problems in broiler chickens.

This study aimed to assess the influence of glycosaminoglycan (chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates) supplementation in the diet on the performance and incidence of locomotor problems in broiler chickens. A completely randomized design was carried out in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme (3 levels of chondroitin sulfate -0, 0.05, and 0.10%; and 3 levels of glucosamine sulfate -0, 0.15, and 0.30%). Each treatment was composed of 6 replications of 30 broilers each. The performance of broilers (average weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and productive viability) was assessed at 7, 21, 35, and 42 d of age, whereas the gait score, valgus and varus deviations, femoral degeneration, and tibial dyschondroplasia were assessed at 21 and 42 d of age. Increasing levels of glucosamine sulfate inclusion linearly increased the weight gain from 1 to 35 and from 1 to 42 d of age of broilers (P = 0.047 and P = 0.039, respectively), frequency of broilers with no femoral degeneration in the right and left femurs, and the proliferating cartilage area of proximal epiphysis at 42 d of age (P = 0.014, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.028, respectively). The increasing inclusion of chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates led to an increase in the frequency of broilers on the gait score scale 0 (P = 0.007 and P = 0.0001, respectively) and frequency of broilers with no valgus and varus deviations (P = 0.014 and P = 0.0002, respectively) also at 42 d of age. Thus, chondroitin and glucosamine sulfates can be used in the diet of broiler chickens to reduce their locomotor problems.

Double patella syndrome with a form of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To present an interesting and unusual case of double patella syndrome in a patient with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. The pertinent clinical and radiographic findings and a brief review of the literature are discussed. CLINICAL FEATURES: An 11-yr-old male patient suffered from occasional right hip pain and limited range of motion, as well as a nontender soft tissue mass in the right knee. Radiographic examination of the hips and knees demonstrated double-layered patellae and bilateral coxa magna deformity. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Although surgery was initially recommended, conservative chiropractic management was employed and resulted in complete resolution of the patient's presenting hip symptoms. CONCLUSION: This case is the first reported of double patella seen on MRI and demonstrates the value of this technology in the noninvasive preoperative assessment of double patella syndrome. The patient's clinical and radiographic features led to the correct diagnosis.