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Fatigue behavior of the equine third metacarpus: mechanical property analysis.
Abstract: This is the first in a series of experiments to study the fatigue properties of equine cannon (third metacarpal) bone specimens from Thoroughbred racehorses. Monotonic and fatigue tests to failure were performed in four-point bending on diaphyseal specimens in a 37 degrees C saline bath to answer three initial questions. (a) Will a linear variable differential transducer yield the same elastic modulus as strain gauges? (b) Will fatigue results depend on whether the periosteal or endosteal side of the beam is in tension? (c) Are there regional variations in the monotonic and fatigue properties of the cannon bone midshaft? Eighteen left-right pairs of specimens from six horses were used. One beam of each pair was fitted with strain gauges. Fatigue tests were conducted on 24 specimens under load control at 2 Hz; an initial range of 0-10,000 microstrain was used so as to produce failure in a reasonable period of time. There were no left-right differences in the fatigue or monotonic properties, and the presence of a gauge had no effect on modulus measured by a linear variable differential transducer. However, gauge-measured moduli were about 1 GPa less than transducer-measured values. Fatigue life was independent of which side of the beam was in tension, and there were significant variations in mechanical properties around the cortex. The lateral region was stiffer than the dorsal region but the latter had a longer fatigue life. The fixed cylindrical supports used in this experiment eventually produced slight wear grooves, causing artifactual stiffening at the end of the load cycle in some specimens. A second experiment using roller supports confirmed the reason for this stiffening. It also showed that fatigue life was shorter when roller supports were used but regional differences were similar.
Publication Date: 1995-11-01 PubMed ID: 8544022DOI: 10.1002/jor.1100130609Google 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
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research studies various fatigue characteristics of the cannon bone in Thoroughbred racehorses with different experimental conditions. It aims to answer specific questions related to the use of linear variable differential transducer in measuring elastic modulus, the relationship of fatigue results to the tensioned side of the bone, regional variations in the properties of the bone and the effect of the wear grooves produced by fixed cylindrical supports.
Methods and Materials
- The study used diaphyseal specimens from eighteen pairs of left-right bones from six horses.
- Monotonic and fatigue tests were conducted using a four-point bending approach in a saline bath at 37 degrees C.
- A linear variable differential transducer and strain gauges were used to measure the elastic modulus of the specimens.
- Fatigue tests for 2 Hz under load control were carried out on 24 specimens, which were designed to fail within a reasonable amount of time.
Study Findings
- The study found no significant differences between the left and right bone specimens in terms of fatigue and monotonic properties.
- The measures were not influenced by the presence of a gauge. However, modulus values measured with gauges were about 1 GPa lesser than those taken by linear variable differential transducers.
- The fatigue life of the specimens was not influenced by which side of the bone was exposed to tension.
Regional Variations and Wear Grooves
- A notable finding was the significant regional variation in mechanical properties around the cortex.
- The lateral region of the bone proved to be stiffer than the dorsal region, which, conversely, exhibited a longer fatigue life.
- Fixed cylindrical supports eventually produced wear grooves, leading to increased stiffness at the end of the load cycle in some specimens.
- A secondary experiment using roller supports confirmed the reason behind this additional stiffening. The fatigue life was found to be shorter when roller supports were used, while regional differences remained similar.
Cite This Article
APA
Gibson VA, Stover SM, Martin RB, Gibeling JC, Willits NH, Gustafson MB, Griffin LV.
(1995).
Fatigue behavior of the equine third metacarpus: mechanical property analysis.
J Orthop Res, 13(6), 861-868.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.1100130609 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Elasticity
- Female
- Forelimb / injuries
- Forelimb / physiology
- Fractures, Stress / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Linear Models
- Male
- Metacarpus / injuries
- Metacarpus / physiology
- Stress, Mechanical
- Weight-Bearing
Grant Funding
- AR41644 / NIAMS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Campbell AM, Cler ML, Skurla CP, Kuehl JJ. Damage accumulation of bovine bone under variable amplitude loads. Bone Rep 2016 Dec;5:320-332.
- Landrigan MD, Roeder RK. Systematic error in mechanical measures of damage during four-point bending fatigue of cortical bone. J Biomech 2009 Jun 19;42(9):1212-7.
- Turek B, Jankowski K, Pawlikowski M, Jasiński T, Domino M. Innovative approach in the treatment of comminuted proximal phalanx fractures in horses based on biomechanical modelling. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 19;15(1):13562.
- Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Cronin JT, Mears CS, Bloebaum RD, Wang X, Bachus KN. Roles of collagen cross-links and osteon collagen/lamellar morphotypes in equine third metacarpals in tension and compression tests. J Exp Biol 2024 Jul 15;227(14).
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