Bone spavin
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
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A provisional diagnosis of bone spavin should usually be supported by further investigation in order to confirm the diagnosis.

### X\-ray

Typical [radiographic](/wiki/Radiography "Radiography") changes include spurs, new bone, bone destruction and/or joint narrowing or loss.

### Intra\-articular local anaesthesia

Anaesthesia of an affected joint is a more definitive way of confirming the presence of pain arising from that joint. Introduction of [local anaesthetic](/wiki/Local_anesthetic "Local anesthetic") into a joint should abolish or at least significantly lessen the lameness. This technique is not absolutely specific, as the distal pouches of the tarsometatarsal joint are immediately adjacent to the [suspensory ligament](/wiki/Suspensory_ligament "Suspensory ligament"). This means that anaesthetic in the tarsometatarsal joint can occasionally desensitize pain arising from suspensory ligament, giving the false impression that joint pain had been the cause of the lameness.

### Scintigraphy

[Scintigraphy](/wiki/Scintigraphy "Scintigraphy") (bone scan) can help to differentiate between suspensory origin desmitis and bone spavin.


What typical radiographic changes are associated with bone spavin?