[Pathological anatomy and histology as well as pathogenesis of leg thickness in piglets]

Leg thickness in piglets was found to be an autosomal recessive defect resulting in a primary developmental disturbance of the periosteal and connective components of the soft tissues of the fore- and, less frequently, hindlegs. Histologically there is periosteal thickening with periosteal proliferation of woven bone spiculae and also of myxoid elements of the soft tissue between bone and skin. Similar entities are not known in the human literature. Analogies with human hereditary congenital elephantiasis and pes equinovarus are incorrect.