Historical perspectives of osteochondrosis

A famous historian, Toynbee, wrote that history was based on challenge and response. Certainly the development of our understanding of osteochondrosis dissecans in the dog fits this description. From the first indications of the disease to our present understanding took about 60 years. The times were right, for during this period improvements in anesthesiology, radiology, and surgery, along with the demands of clients coupled with the presence of skilled trained investigators and sharp practitioners, brought about a continually increasing mass of information about a new disease entity. It is proper for us to give credit to those gifted individuals who patiently worked to unravel each bit of information. Our current challenge is that much more remains to be done.