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Association of catastrophic biaxial fracture of the proximal sesamoid bones with bony changes of the metacarpophalangeal joint identified by standing magnetic resonance imaging in cadaveric forelimbs of Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: To compare bony changes in the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) of racehorses with (cases) and without (controls) biaxial proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fracture as determined by 2 grading scales applied to images of cadaveric forelimbs obtained by means of standing MRI (sMRI). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Forelimbs from 74 Thoroughbred racehorses (21 cases and 53 controls) that were euthanized at a Florida racetrack. Methods: Both forelimbs were harvested from cases and controls. Each forelimb underwent sMRI to obtain images of the MCPJ. Two grading scales were described and used for image evaluation; one assessed the density of the PSBs, and the other assessed the integrity of the subchondral bone (SCB) plate at the distopalmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone (MC3). Logistic regression was used to compare the grades between case and control limbs. Results: Biaxial PSB fracture was associated with a total PSB grade (sum of lateral and medial PSB grades) ≥ 5 for the fractured limb, total MC3 SCB grade (sum of lateral and medial MC3 SCB grades) ≥ 5 for the contralateral limb, and the presence of orthopedic disease in the contralateral MC3. Conclusions: For cases with biaxial PSB fracture, the density of the PSBs in the affected limb was greater and the MC3 of the contralateral limb was more likely to have orthopedic disease, compared with those for controls. Further evaluation of sMRI as a screening tool for identification of racehorses at risk of biaxial PSB fracture is warranted.
Publication Date: 2015-02-27 PubMed ID: 25719849DOI: 10.2460/javma.246.6.661Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the comparison of bone changes in the metacarpophalangeal joint in racehorses with and without a type of fracture known as biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fracture, using standing magnetic resonance imaging of cadaveric forelimbs.
Research Methodology
- The study was done as a case control study and included forelimbs obtained from 74 Thoroughbred racehorses that had been put down at a racetrack in Florida.
- The study sample was divided into 21 cases (horses with biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fracture) and 53 controls (horses without the fracture).
- Images of each horse’s metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) were obtained through a procedure called standing MRI (sMRI).
- Two grading scales were established and used in the assessment of the obtained images.The first scale graded the density of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSB) while the second scale graded the integrity of the subchondral bone (SCB) plate at the distopalmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone (MC3).
- A logistic regression was then used to draw a comparison between the grades of the case limbs and those of the control limbs.
Research Findings
- The finding reveal that a biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fracture is linked to a total PSB grade of 5 or more in the fractured limb and a total MC3 subchondral bone grade of 5 or more in the contralateral limb (the limb on the opposite side).
- The contralateral limb was also likely to have an orthopedic disease.
- The density of the PSBs in the limb affected by the fracture was higher compared to the control limbs, and the MC3 of the contralateral limb was more likely to have an orthopedic disease.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that standing MRI might be useful as a screening tool to identify racehorses at high risk of having a biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fracture.
- However, they recommended further evaluation of the method to establish its accuracy and reliability in identifying such cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Peloso JG, Vogler JB, Cohen ND, Marquis P, Hilt L.
(2015).
Association of catastrophic biaxial fracture of the proximal sesamoid bones with bony changes of the metacarpophalangeal joint identified by standing magnetic resonance imaging in cadaveric forelimbs of Thoroughbred racehorses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 246(6), 661-673.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.246.6.661 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Medical Center of Ocala, 7107 W Hwy 326, Ocala, FL 34482.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Remodeling
- Cadaver
- Case-Control Studies
- Euthanasia, Animal
- Forelimb / pathology
- Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
- Fractures, Bone / pathology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / injuries
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Metacarpus / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpus / pathology
- Radiography
- Running
- Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Sesamoid Bones / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Noordwijk KJ, Chen L, Ruspi BD, Schurer S, Papa B, Fasanello DC, McDonough SP, Palmer SE, Porter IR, Basran PS, Donnelly E, Reesink HL. Metacarpophalangeal Joint Pathology and Bone Mineral Density Increase with Exercise but Not with Incidence of Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 24;13(5).
- Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Changes in Thoroughbred speed and stride characteristics over successive race starts and their association with musculoskeletal injury. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):194-204.
- Johnston GCA, Ahern BJ, Palmieri C, Young AC. Imaging and Gross Pathological Appearance of Changes in the Parasagittal Grooves of Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 24;11(12).
- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
- Bellone RR, Ocampo NR, Hughes SS, Le V, Arthur R, Finno CJ, Penedo MCT. Warmblood fragile foal syndrome type 1 mutation (PLOD1 c.2032G>A) is not associated with catastrophic breakdown and has a low allele frequency in the Thoroughbred breed. Equine Vet J 2020 May;52(3):411-414.
- Stewart HL, Kawcak CE. The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:178.
- Irandoust S, Whitton C, Henak C, Muir P. Tuning and validation of a virtual mechanical testing pipeline for condylar stress fracture risk assessment in Thoroughbred racehorses. R Soc Open Sci 2025 May;12(5):241935.
- Spriet M, Vandenberghe F. Equine Nuclear Medicine in 2024: Use and Value of Scintigraphy and PET in Equine Lameness Diagnosis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 28;14(17).
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