Comparison of gross and histopathologic findings with quantitative computed tomographic bone density in the distal third metacarpal bone of racehorses.
Abstract: Comparison of subchondral bone density determined by quantitative computed tomography (CT) with gross and histopathologic changes have not been made in horses. The goal of this study was to determine if mean quantitative CT density and mean voxel standard deviation are associated with the presence and severity of osteochondral lesions in the palmar aspect of the distal third metacarpal bone in racing horses. Metacarpophalangeal joints from nine racehorses were imaged using CT and scored for gross damage. Four-millimeter-thick sagittal and 30 degrees palmar dorsal plane sections were cut, decalcified and stained with hematoxylin and eosin from the distal third metacarpal bone. Microscopic osteochondral lesions and subchondral remodeling were scored on a scale of 0-3. Percent subchondral bone, expressed as the ratio of bone volume to tissue volume, was also measured. Mean quantitative CT density and mean voxel standard deviation were measured from three-dimensional models of CT images comparable with histologic sections. Mean quantitative CT density was not associated with lesion severity or number of lesions. A weak correlation between mean quantitative CT density and gross score was found, but mean quantitative CT density was not predictive for gross score. Mean voxel standard deviation was not correlated with gross or histopathologic measures, but was predictive of mild osteochondral lesions. Results support the association of subchondral remodeling with the development of palmar metacarpal lesions. However, there was not a strong correlation between mean quantitative CT density or mean voxel standard deviation and histopathologic lesions of the distal third metacarpal bone.
Publication Date: 2007-11-21 PubMed ID: 18018722DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2007.00289.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Anatomy
- Articular Cartilage
- Bones
- Clinical Pathology
- Computed Tomography
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Histopathology
- Horse Racing
- Horses
- Metacarpal Bone
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Osteochondrosis
- Radiology
- Subchondral Bone
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article explores the relationship between bone density determined through quantitative computed tomography (CT) and osteochondral lesions in horses’ metacarpal bones. The study concludes that while subchondral remodeling is associated with the development of such lesions, the correlation between CT density or mean voxel standard deviation and these histopathologic lesions is not strong.
Research Methodology
- The study was carried out on metacarpophalangeal joints obtained from nine racehorses.
- These joints were imaged using computed tomography (CT), and subsequently evaluated for gross damage.
- Sagittal and palmar dorsal plane sections were cut from the distal third metacarpal bone of these horses. These sections were then decalcified and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for further study.
- A score was assigned to microscopic osteochondral lesions and the subchondral remodeling observed in these sections, on a scale of 0-3.
- The ratio of bone volume to tissue volume was also calculated to determine the percent of subchondral bone.
- The researchers then measured the mean quantitative CT density and mean voxel standard deviation using three-dimensional models made from the CT images.
Study Findings
- The study found no association between the mean quantitative CT density and the severity or number of lesions.
- A weak correlation was found between the mean quantitative CT density and the gross score. However, this measure did not prove to be a predictive factor for the gross score.
- There was no correlation found between the mean voxel standard deviation and the gross or histopathologic measures. However, it was found to have a predictive value for mild osteochondral lesions.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that there was not a strong correlation between the mean quantitative CT density or the mean voxel standard deviation, and the histopathologic lesions observed in the distal third metacarpal bone.
- However, an association was found between subchondral remodeling and the development of lesions in the palmar metacarpal.
- These results suggest that while CT scans can provide useful information, they may not be the most accurate tool for predicting the severity or number of osteochondral lesions in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Drum MG, Kawcak CE, Norrdin RW, Park RD, McIlwraith CW, Les CM.
(2007).
Comparison of gross and histopathologic findings with quantitative computed tomographic bone density in the distal third metacarpal bone of racehorses.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 48(6), 518-527.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2007.00289.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. mdrum@utk.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Density
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Metacarpal Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpal Bones / pathology
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Severity of Illness Index
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Boyde A. The Bone Cartilage Interface and Osteoarthritis.. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Sep;109(3):303-328.
- McCarty CA, Thomason JJ, Gordon KD, Burkhart TA, Milner JS, Holdsworth DW. Finite-Element Analysis of Bone Stresses on Primary Impact in a Large-Animal Model: The Distal End of the Equine Third Metacarpal.. PLoS One 2016;11(7):e0159541.
- Kuyinu EL, Narayanan G, Nair LS, Laurencin CT. Animal models of osteoarthritis: classification, update, and measurement of outcomes.. J Orthop Surg Res 2016 Feb 2;11:19.
- Boyde A, Davis GR, Mills D, Zikmund T, Cox TM, Adams VL, Niker A, Wilson PJ, Dillon JP, Ranganath LR, Jeffery N, Jarvis JC, Gallagher JA. On fragmenting, densely mineralised acellular protrusions into articular cartilage and their possible role in osteoarthritis.. J Anat 2014 Oct;225(4):436-46.
- McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. The horse as a model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis.. Bone Joint Res 2012 Nov;1(11):297-309.
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