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Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society2022; 40(12); 2831-2842; doi: 10.1002/jor.25312

Exercise history predicts focal differences in bone volume fraction, mineral density and microdamage in the proximal sesamoid bones of Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Medial proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) from Thoroughbred racehorses that did (Case) or did not (Control) experience unilateral biaxial PSB fracture were evaluated for bone volume fraction (BVF), apparent mineral density (AMD), tissue mineral density (TMD), and microdamage in Case fractured, Case contralateral limb intact, and Control bones. A majority of Case bones had a subchondral lesion with high microdamage density, and low BVF, AMD, and TMD. Lesion microdamage and densitometric measures were associated with training history by robust linear regression. Exercise intensity was negatively related to BVF (0.07 ≤ R  ≤ 0.12) and positively related to microcrack areal density (0.21 ≤ R  ≤ 0.29) in the lesion; however, in an undamaged site, the relationships were opposite in direction. Regardless of location, TMD decreased with event frequency for both Case and Control, suggesting increased bone remodeling with exercise. Measures of how often animals were removed from active training (layups) predicted a decrease in TMD, AMD, BVF, and microdamage at regions away from the lesion site. A steady-state compartment model was used to organize the differences in the correlations between variables within the data set. The overall conclusions are that at the osteopenic lesion site, repair of microdamage by remodeling was not successful (e.g., lower bone mass, increased damage, and lower mineralization) but that in regions away from the lesion remodeling successfully controlled damage (e.g., higher bone mass, less microdamage, and lower mineralization).
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-19 PubMed ID: 35245393PubMed Central: PMC9790587DOI: 10.1002/jor.25312Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates how the exercise history of Thoroughbred racehorses predicts distinctions in bone composition and damage, particularly in the proximal sesamoid bones. The study finds a strong relationship between exercise intensity and health of these bones, with the data suggesting that excessive training might not allow adequate time for bone remodeling and repair.

Introduction and Methodology

  • The researchers studied the medial proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) of Thoroughbred racehorses, particularly those that had experienced a specific type of unilateral bone fracture.
  • They evaluated various aspects of bone health, including bone volume fraction (BVF), apparent mineral density (AMD), tissue mineral density (TMD), and the presence and extent of microdamage.
  • Comparisons were made between fractured bones, intact bones from the same horse (Case), and bones from horses that hadn’t experienced such a fracture (Control).

Findings

  • Most of the Case bones showed a subchondral lesion (an injury below the joint surface) characterized by high microdamage density and low BVF, AMD, and TMD.
  • Such microdamage and densitometric measurements were found to have a correlation with the horse’s training history via robust linear regression analysis.
  • In the presence of a lesion, exercise intensity was discovered to have a negative association with BVF and a positive correlation with the area density of microcracks. In a lesion-free area, these relationships were found to be reversed.
  • Irrespective of the location, TMD was found to decrease with the frequency of races (or events), indicating an increase in bone remodeling with the intensity of exercise.
  • How often horses were removed from active training (referred to as ‘layups’) predicted a decrease in TMD, AMD, BVF, and microdamage—but only at regions away from the lesion site.

Conclusions

  • Data was organized using a steady-state compartment model to illustrate the correlations between variables.
  • An important conclusion drawn from the study is that at the site of the osteopenic lesion (the area of bone with reduced density), bone remodeling did not efficiently repair microdamage, resulting in lower bone mass, increased damage, and lower mineralization.
  • However, in regions apart from the lesion, remodeling seemed to effectively control damage, leading to higher bone mass, less microdamage, and lower mineralization.

Cite This Article

APA
Shaffer SK, Garcia TC, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP. (2022). Exercise history predicts focal differences in bone volume fraction, mineral density and microdamage in the proximal sesamoid bones of Thoroughbred racehorses. J Orthop Res, 40(12), 2831-2842. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25312

Publication

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
ISSN: 1554-527X
NlmUniqueID: 8404726
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 40
Issue: 12
Pages: 2831-2842

Researcher Affiliations

Shaffer, Sarah K
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Garcia, Tanya C
  • Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Stover, Susan M
  • Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Fyhrie, David P
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
  • Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Sesamoid Bones / pathology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Fractures, Bone / pathology
  • Bone Density
  • Minerals

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Shaffer SK, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP. Training drives turnover rates in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones. Sci Rep 2023 Jan 27;13(1):205.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26027-ypubmed: 36707527google scholar: lookup
  2. Ducrocq M, Kamus L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Janvier V, Laverty S. Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):203-216.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14100pubmed: 38720453google scholar: lookup
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