Influence of microarchitecture on stressed volume and mechanical fatigue behaviour of equine subchondral bone.
Abstract: Fractures of the equine metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint are among the most common and fatal injuries experienced by racehorses. These bone injuries are a direct result of repetitive, high intensity loading of the skeleton during racing and training and there is consensus that they represent a mechanical fatigue phenomenon. Existing work has found the fatigue life of bone to be strongly determined by bone microarchitecture and the resulting stressed volume (i.e., the volume of bone stressed above assumed yield). The purpose of this study was to quantify the influence of bone microarchitecture on the mechanical fatigue behaviour of equine subchondral bone from the MCP joint across a wide variety of sample types. Forty-eight subchondral bone samples were prepared from the third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal phalanx (P1) of 8 horses and subsequently imaged using high resolution micro-computed tomography (μCT) to quantify microarchitectural features of interest, including bone volume fraction, tissue mineral density, pore size, pore spacing, and pore number. Samples were cyclically loaded in compression to a stress of 70 MPa, and fatigue life was defined as the number of cycles until failure. Finite element models were created from the μCT images and used to quantify stressed volume. Based on the expected log point-wise predictive density, stressed volume was a strong predictor of fatigue life in both the MC3 and P1. A regional analysis indicated fatigue life was more strongly associated with bone volume fraction in the superficial (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) and middle (r = 0.70, p < 0.001) regions of the subchondral bone, indicating the prominent role that the cortical plate played in the fatigue resistance of equine subchondral bone. By improving our understanding of the variance in fatigue life measurements, this research helps clarify the underlying mechanisms of the mechanical fatigue process and provides a basic understanding of subchondral bone injuries in the equine fetlock joint.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2024-02-21 PubMed ID: 38395248DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2024.117054Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper explores how bone microarchitecture plays an role in the mechanical fatigue behavior of equine subchondral bone, thereby affecting fracture rates in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, which is common in racehorses due to rigorous training and racing routines.
Methodology
- The study included forty-eight subchondral bone samples which were collected from the third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal phalanx (P1) of 8 different horses.
- High resolution micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used to obtain images of the samples from which the researchers could derive measurements and details of microarchitecture like bone volume fraction, tissue mineral density, pore size, spacing, and numbers.
- All the samples underwent cyclic loading under compression to a stress level of 70 MPa, with fatigue life being defined as the number of cycles until the bone sample failed.
- Using the μCT images, the team created Finite Element Models to quantify the stressed volume in these samples.
Findings
- The researchers found that stressed volume was a significant predictor of fatigue life in both MC3 and P1 samples.
- A regional analysis revealed that fatigue life was more strongly associated with bone volume fraction in the superficial and middle regions of the subchondral bone. This indicated that the cortical plate had a significant role in the fatigue resistance of equine subchondral bone.
- The findings from this study highlight how the bone’s microarchitectural characteristics contribute significantly to its resistance to fatigue, which in turn, affects the likelihood of fractures in the MCP joint.
Impact
- By providing insights into the variance in fatigue life measurements, this study aids in better understanding the mechanisms of the mechanical fatigue process.
- The research offers a fundamental comprehension of subchondral bone injuries in the equine fetlock joint, which can be significant for developing preventative measures and treatments for common equine skeletal injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Koshyk A, Pohl AJ, Takahashi Y, Scott WM, Sparks HD, Edwards WB.
(2024).
Influence of microarchitecture on stressed volume and mechanical fatigue behaviour of equine subchondral bone.
Bone, 117054.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2024.117054 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: andrew.koshyk@ucalgary.ca.
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
- Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors have no affiliation with any organization with a direct or indirect financial interest in the subject matter discussed in the manuscript.
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