Evaluation of experimental impact injury for inducing post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joints of horses.
Abstract: To determine whether a single contusive impact injury to the palmar aspect of the metacarpus would progress to post-traumatic osteoarthritis or palmar osteochondral disease in horses. Methods: 12 horses. Methods: In each horse, an impact injury was created on the palmar aspect of the medial metacarpal condyle of 1 randomly chosen limb with an impactor device under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. The opposite limb was sham operated as a control. A low to moderate amount of forced exercise was instituted, and horses were evaluated clinically via lameness examinations weekly for 5 months, then biweekly until endpoint, with synovial fluid analysis performed at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 months and radiography at baseline and endpoint. Macroscopic examination, micro-CT, and sample collection for cartilage viability and sulfated glycosaminoglycan content, histologic evaluation, immunohistochemical analysis, and fluorochrome analysis were performed following euthanasia at 1 (3 horses), 4 (4), and 8 to 10 (5) months after surgery. Results: There was variability in impact lesion location, depth, and area on macroscopic inspection, but on histologic evaluation, cartilage defects were less variable. Mean sulfated glycosaminoglycan concentration from cartilage at the impact site was significantly lower than that at a similar site in control limbs. Higher concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein were observed in synovial fluid from impact-injured joints. Conclusions: The impact injury method caused mild focal osteoarthritic lesions in the metacarpophalangeal joint, but did not progress to palmar osteochondral disease at this site. Repeated injury is probably required for the development of palmar osteochondral disease.
Publication Date: 2012-09-28 PubMed ID: 23013179DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.73.10.1540Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study aimed to determine whether a single impact injury to a horse’s metacarpus could lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Through evaluation via lameness examinations, synovial fluid analysis, radiography, and various microscopic examinations, it was found that while the injury method did cause mild focal osteoarthritic lesions, it did not progress to palmar osteochondral disease, suggesting that repeated injury would likely be necessary for that condition’s development.
Methodology
- The researchers examined 12 horses, each of which had an impact injury induced in the metacarpal area of one limb. This was done using an impactor device under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic guidance.
- The opposite limb of each horse served as a control, and was sham operated.
- After the operation, a regime of low to moderate forced exercise was instituted.
- For a period of up to ten months post-surgery, the horses were clinically evaluated via lameness examinations, synovial fluid analysis, and radiography.
Results
- The resulting impact lesions from the injuries showed variability in terms of location, depth, and area upon macroscopic inspection. However, histological evaluation revealed less variability in the cartilage defects.
- There was a significant decrease in the concentration of sulfated glycosaminoglycan, a substance found in cartilage, at the impact site compared to similar sites in the control limbs.
- The synovial fluid from the injured joints showed higher concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.
Conclusions
- While the impact injury method did induce mild osteoarthritic lesions in the metacarpophalangeal joint, it did not progress to palmar osteochondral disease at that site.
- This suggests that repeated injury is likely necessary for the development of palmar osteochondral disease, rather than a single instance of trauma.
Cite This Article
APA
Rickey EJ, Cruz AM, Trout DR, McEwen BJ, Hurtig MB.
(2012).
Evaluation of experimental impact injury for inducing post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joints of horses.
Am J Vet Res, 73(10), 1540-1552.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.73.10.1540 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. ellen.rickey@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
- Foot / pathology
- Forelimb / metabolism
- Forelimb / pathology
- Glycoproteins / metabolism
- Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joints / metabolism
- Joints / pathology
- Matrilin Proteins
- Osteoarthritis / etiology
- Osteoarthritis / metabolism
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Osteochondrosis / etiology
- Osteochondrosis / metabolism
- Osteochondrosis / pathology
- Osteochondrosis / veterinary
- Synovial Fluid / metabolism
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Bertoni L, Jacquet-Guibon S, Branly T, Legendre F, Desancé M, Mespoulhes C, Melin M, Hartmann DJ, Schmutz A, Denoix JM, Galéra P, Demoor M, Audigié F. An experimentally induced osteoarthritis model in horses performed on both metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints: Technical, clinical, imaging, biochemical, macroscopic and microscopic characterization.. PLoS One 2020;15(6):e0235251.
- Yamada ALM, Pinheiro M, Marsiglia MF, Hagen SCF, Baccarin RYA, da Silva LCLC. Ultrasound and clinical findings in the metacarpophalangeal joint assessment of show jumping horses in training.. J Vet Sci 2020 May;21(3):e21.
- Delco ML, Kennedy JG, Bonassar LJ, Fortier LA. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle: A distinct clinical entity requiring new research approaches.. J Orthop Res 2017 Mar;35(3):440-453.
- Novakofski KD, Pownder SL, Koff MF, Williams RM, Potter HG, Fortier LA. High-Resolution Methods for Diagnosing Cartilage Damage In Vivo.. Cartilage 2016 Jan;7(1):39-51.
- Maninchedda U, Lepage OM, Gangl M, Hilairet S, Remandet B, Meot F, Penarier G, Segard E, Cortez P, Jorgensen C, Steinberg R. Development of an equine groove model to induce metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis: a pilot study on 6 horses.. PLoS One 2015;10(2):e0115089.
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