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Comparison of macrostructural and microstructural bone features in Thoroughbred racehorses with and without midbody fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone.
Abstract: To compare macrostructural and microstructural features of proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) from horses with and without PSB midbody fracture to gain insight into the pathogenesis of PSB fracture. Methods: PSBs from 16 Thoroughbred racehorses (8 with and 8 without a PSB midbody fracture). Methods: Parasagittal sections of fractured and contralateral intact PSBs from horses with a PSB fracture and an intact PSB from age- and sex-matched control horses without a PSB fracture were evaluated for visual, radiographic, microradiographic, histologic, and his-tomorphometric differences in bone porosity, vascular channels, heme pigment, trabecular anisotropy, and pathological findings. Results: Fractured PSBs and their contralateral intact PSBs had more compacted trabecular bone than did control PSBs. Focal repair or remodeling was evident in the palmar aspect of many fractured and contralateral intact PSBs. Fracture coincided with microstructural features and propagated from the flexor to the articular surface. Conclusions: Fractured PSBs had adapted to high loading but had focal evidence of excessive remodeling and porosity that likely predisposed the horses to complete fracture and catastrophic injury. Detection of focal injury before complete fracture provides an opportunity for prevention of catastrophic injury. Development of diagnostic imaging methods to assess porosity of PSBs may help to identify at-risk horses and allow for modifications of training and racing schedules to reduce the incidence of PSB fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Publication Date: 2010-07-03 PubMed ID: 20594077DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.71.7.755Google 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper discusses a comparison of the macrostructural and microstructural features of the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) in Thoroughbred racehorses, in relation to fractures. It suggests that greater attention to certain features in these bones could facilitate early detection of potential fractures, allowing preventative measures to be implemented, potentially reducing catastrophic injuries in racehorses.
Methods Used in the Research
- For the research study, PSBs from 16 Thoroughbred racehorses were evaluated, eight of these horses had a PSB midbody fracture and the other eight were without any PSB fracture.
- Various evaluation methods were employed, including visual inspection, radiographic, microradiographic, histologic, and histomorphometric assessment, covering bone porosity, vascular channels, heme pigment, trabecular anisotropy, and pathological findings.
Study Results
- The findings indicated that both the fractured PSBs and their contralateral intact PSBs had more compacted trabecular bone than those of the control group horses (those without a PSB fracture).
- Evidence of repair or remodeling was observed in the palmar aspect of many fractured and contralateral intact PSBs.
- The fractures coincided with microstructural features and propagated from the flexor to the articular surface.
Research Conclusions
- The study found that the fractured PSBs had adapted to high loading but showed signs of excessive remodeling and porosity. These characteristics, the paper proposes, likely increased the susceptibility of horses to incurring complete fractures and catastrophic injuries.
- The paper posits that early identification of focal injury before a complete fracture arises can allow for the prevention of catastrophic injury.
- The authors of the paper advocate the development of diagnostic imaging techniques that can assess the porosity of PSBs. By identifying at-risk horses, modifications can potentially be made to their training and racing timetables, ultimately aimed at reducing the incidence of PSB fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Anthenill LA, Gardner IA, Pool RR, Garcia TC, Stover SM.
(2010).
Comparison of macrostructural and microstructural bone features in Thoroughbred racehorses with and without midbody fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone.
Am J Vet Res, 71(7), 755-765.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.71.7.755 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Departments of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Remodeling / physiology
- Breeding
- Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
- Fractures, Bone / pathology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Heme / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Orchiectomy
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
- Radiography
- Running / physiology
- Sesamoid Bones / anatomy & histology
- Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
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).
- 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).
- Samol MA, Uzal FA, Blanchard PC, Arthur RM, Stover SM. Sudden death caused by spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fractures and fetlock failure in a Thoroughbred racehorse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jul;33(4):788-791.
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 5;10(11).
- Maeda Y, Hanada M, Oikawa MA. Epidemiology of racing injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses with special reference to bone fractures: Japanese experience from the 1980s to 2000s. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):81-97.
- Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
- Welsh CE, Lewis TW, Blott SC, Mellor DJ, Lam KH, Stewart BD, Parkin TD. Preliminary genetic analyses of important musculoskeletal conditions of Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong. Vet J 2013 Dec;198(3):611-5.
- Palomino Lago E, Ross AKC, McClellan A, Guest DJ. Identification of a global gene expression signature associated with the genetic risk of catastrophic fracture in iPSC-derived osteoblasts from Thoroughbred horses. Anim Genet 2025 Feb;56(1):e13504.
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