Evaluation of the tibia as a source of autogenous cancellous bone in the horse.

This research study focuses on the evaluation of the horse’s tibia to determine its potential as a source of autogenous cancellous bone. It further examines the healing process and possible complications that might arise from surgical extraction.

Study Objective and Methodology

• The main objective of the study was to evaluate the viability of the tibia in horses as a source of autogenous cancellous bone, which can be used for transplantation purposes in the same animal. The research efforts were concentrated on establishing whether the tibia can provide a consistent cancellous bone graft, examining how the removal site heals, and monitoring for any complications.
• In order to achieve this, a 1 cm defect was artificially created in the proximal medial cortex of 12 tibia, from which cancellous bone was extracted. The tibia bones were then tested to their breaking point in torsional loading to confirm whether the extraction had weakened them.

Results of the Experiment

• Contrary to potential assumptions, the fractures did not occur at the sites where the cancellous bone had been harvested, confirming that the removal process did not weaken the structural integrity of the bones.
• The fracture patterns and loads that caused the fracture were consistent with those of untreated bones, further underscoring the fact that extracting cancellous bone did not have any detrimental impact on the strength or structure of the tibia.

Cancellous Bone Harvesting Procedure

• The study found that cancellous bone could be reliably harvested from the proximal medial aspect of both the tibia in adult horses. The surgical procedure could be completed with ease and in a short time span, with the horses in either lateral or dorsal recumbency.
• The sites of extraction showed promise in terms of healing as well, with the healing of the osseous defects being monitored over six months in two horses. The results indicated that the wound heals reliably without extensive caring.

Complications and Further Implications

• Out of the total operations, only three incisions had associated complications, suggesting that the procedure was largely safe with a low risk of surgical complications.
• This study’s findings unlock further potential for understanding and employing horse tibia as a source of autogenous cancellous bone. This could hold significant value in equine medicine, more so for conditions that require bone grafting in horses.