Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy.
Abstract: Long-term cyclic tensile testing with equine palmar/plantar tendons have not yet been performed due to problems in fixing equine tendons securely and loading them cyclically. It is well established that the biomechanical response of tendons varies during cyclic loading over time. The aim of this study was to develop a clamping device that enables repetitive cyclic tensile testing of equine superficial digital flexor tendon for at least 60 loading cycles and for 5 min. Results: A novel cryo-clamp was developed and built. Healthy and collagenase-treated pony SDFTs were mounted in the custom-made cryo-clamp for the proximal tendon end and a special clamping device for the short pastern bone (os coronale). Simultaneously with tensile testing, we used a biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy system (FluoKin) to track tendon movement. The FluoKin system was additionally validated in precision measurements. During the cyclic tensile tests of the SDFTs, the average maximal force measured was 325 N and 953 N for a length variation of 2 and 4 % respectively. The resulting stress averaged 16 MPa and 48 MPa respectively, while the modulus of elasticity was 828 MPa and 1212 MPa respectively. Length variation of the metacarpal region was, on average, 4.87 % higher after incubation with collagenase. The precision of the FluoKin tracking was 0.0377 mm, defined as the standard deviation of pairwise intermarker distances embedded in rigid bodies. The systems accuracy was 0.0287 mm, which is the difference between the machined and mean measured distance. Conclusions: In this study, a good performing clamping technique for equine tendons under repetitive cyclic loading conditions is described. The presented cryo-clamps were tested up to 50 min duration and up to the machine maximal capacity of 10 kN. With the possibility of repetitive loading a stabilization of the time-force-curve and changes of hysteresis and creep became obvious after a dozen cycles, which underlines the necessity of repetitive cyclical testing. Furthermore, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy seems an appropriate and highly precise measurement tool for analysis of tendon behaviour under repetitive load in equine SDFTs.
Publication Date: 2021-06-25 PubMed ID: 34172051PubMed Central: PMC8229380DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02914-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study aimed to design a clamping device capable of cyclic tensile testing on equine tendons, specifically the superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) of Shetland ponies. By successfully performing these tests, they were able to measure the biomechanical properties of the tendons over numerous loading cycles while utilising a sophisticated tracking system to monitor tendon movement.
Background and Aims
- Previous research had encountered difficulties when trying to fix equine tendons securely and undergo cyclic loading; this study aimed to solve this issue by creating a specialized clamping device.
- The goal was for this device to achieve at least 60 loading cycles over 5 minutes.
Methodology
- A unique ‘cryo-clamp’ was developed and constructed for this project.
- Healthy and collagenase-treated pony SDFTs were secured in the cryo-clamp. A separate, specialised clamping device was used for the short pastern bone (os coronale).
- While the tensile testing was underway, a biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy system, called FluoKin, was utilised to track the tendon’s movement. The FluoKin system’s precision was also validated during the experiment.
Findings
- The maximal force measured during the cyclic tensile tests of the SDFTs averaged at 325 N and 953 N for a length variation of 2 and 4% respectively.
- The resultant stress levels averaged at 16 MPa and 48 MPa respectively, whereas the modulus of elasticity was 828 MPa and 1212 MPa respectively.
- The average length variation of the metacarpal region was 4.87% higher after being treated with collagenase.
- The precision of the Fluokin tracking system was determined to be 0.0377 mm, demonstrating a high level of accuracy in tracking tendon movement.
Conclusions
- The study successfully demonstrated a robust clamping technique for equine tendons under repetitive cyclic loading conditions, tested up to 50 minutes duration and up to machine capacity of 10 kN.
- The ability to repetitively load tendons allowed for the stabilization of the time-force-curve and noticeable changes in hysteresis and creep after about twelve cycles.
- The researchers also concluded that biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy appears to be an apt tool, giving precise measurements for analysing tendon behaviour under repetitive load in equine SDFTs.
Cite This Article
APA
Wagner FC, Reese S, Gerlach K, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW.
(2021).
Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy.
BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 223.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02914-w Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 43, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. franziska.wagner@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
- Chair of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Veterinärstraße 13, 80539, Munich, Germany.
- Department for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Small Animal Clinic, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19 b, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 43, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
- Fluoroscopy / veterinary
- Forelimb / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Stress, Mechanical
- Tendons / physiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Wagner FC, Gerlach K, Geiger SM, Gittel C, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW. Biplanar High-Speed Fluoroscopy of Pony Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT)-An In Vivo Pilot Study.. Vet Sci 2021 May 27;8(6).
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