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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Musculoskelet Disord / Investigation of changes in bone density and chemical compos...
BMC musculoskeletal disorders2019; 20(1); 330; doi: 10.1186/s12891-019-2693-y

Investigation of changes in bone density and chemical composition associated with bone marrow oedema-type appearances in magnetic resonance images of the equine forelimb.

Abstract: The aetiology of bone marrow oedema-like abnormalities (BMOA) seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is as yet not fully understood. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of projection radiography and Raman microspectroscopy to provide information regarding the underlying physiological changes associated with BMOA in equine bone samples. Methods: MRI was used to assess 65 limbs from 43 horses. A subset of 13 limbs provided 25 samples, 8 with BMOA present and 17 as controls; these were examined with projection radiography to assess bone mineral density and Raman spectroscopy to assess bone composition. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, the relationship between BMOA and age was tested using binary logistic regression, other outcome measures via unpaired t-tests. Results: Overall BMOA was found to be associated with locally increased bone density (p = 0.011), suggesting increased bone formation; however, no measurable changes relating to bone remodelling were found, and there were no detectable changes in the chemical composition of bone. Conclusions: BMOA is associated with locally increased bone density, without an associated change in the chemical composition of bone, suggesting this is not linked to BMOA. The presence of increased bone density associated with BMOA does appear to suggest that an increased amount of bone formation is occurring in these regions, but as Raman microspectroscopy data do not demonstrate any significant changes in bone chemical composition associated with BMOA, it would appear that the increased bone volume is due to a greater amount of bone being formed rather than an imbalance in relation to bone remodelling. The study provides a proof of principle for the use of Raman microspectroscopy and projection radiography in in vitro studies of BMOA.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-15 PubMed ID: 31307450PubMed Central: PMC6631911DOI: 10.1186/s12891-019-2693-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 aimed to analyse the underlying physiological changes correlated with abnormalities in horse bone marrow, referred to as BMOA, observed on MRI, using projection radiography and Raman microspectroscopy. The study identified an increased local bone density associated with these abnormalities but no significant alterations in bone chemical composition.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The purpose of this research was to scrutinize the unknown causes of bone marrow oedema-like abnormalities (BMOA) seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in horses. The study estimated the potential of projection radiography and Raman microspectroscopy to capture data related to the in-depth physiological changes associated with BMOA in equine bone samples.
  • The examination used MRI to evaluate 65 limbs from 43 horses, and then selected 13 limbs that provided 25 samples, with 8 displaying BMOA and the rest as control samples. The team then utilized projection radiography to evaluate bone mineral density and Raman spectroscopy to examine the bone composition. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, with the correlation between BMOA and age tested using binary logistic regression methods.

Research Outcome

  • The observation of the research revealed that BMOA was linked to an increased local bone density. This increased density implies the formation of a larger volume of bone.
  • Interestingly, despite the increased bone density, there were no detectable changes in the chemical composition of the bones. Furthermore, there were also no details showing alterations relating to bone remodeling, meaning the growth and reshaping of bone tissue.

Conclusions and Future Implications

  • The study concludes that BMOA is linked to an increased formation of bone density, without any change in the chemical composition of the bone, indicating that the phenomenon is not a result of BMOA. This suggests that the volume increase is due to a higher amount of bone formation rather than an imbalance in bone remodeling.
  • Moreover, the study also illustrates the potential use of Raman microspectroscopy and projection radiography in in vitro studies of BMOA, offering a proof of principle for these methods.
  • This research forms a basis for further inquiries into the phenomenon of BMOA, its etiology, and how bone density and composition changes might correlate with other biological or pathological changes in the equine anatomy.

Cite This Article

APA
Heales CJ, Summers IR, Fulford J, Knapp KM, Winlove CP. (2019). Investigation of changes in bone density and chemical composition associated with bone marrow oedema-type appearances in magnetic resonance images of the equine forelimb. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 20(1), 330. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2693-y

Publication

BMC musculoskeletal disorders
ISSN: 1471-2474
NlmUniqueID: 100968565
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: 330
PII: 330

Researcher Affiliations

Heales, Christine J
  • College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK. c.j.heales@exeter.ac.uk.
Summers, Ian R
  • College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.
Fulford, Jonathan
  • College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
Knapp, Karen M
  • College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
Winlove, C Peter
  • College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Diseases / pathology
  • Bone Diseases / veterinary
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Marrow Diseases / veterinary
  • Bone and Bones / chemistry
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Edema / pathology
  • Edema / veterinary
  • Forelimb
  • Horses
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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