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Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(1); 203-216; doi: 10.1111/evj.14100

Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage.

Abstract: Stifle osteoarthritis (OA) lesions are most common in the medial femorotibial (MFT) compartment. Their characterisation and mapping will inform equine veterinarians towards an accurate diagnosis of OA. Objective: Investigate and map micro-CT (μCT) changes in the hyaline articular cartilage (HAC) in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial plateau (MTP). Methods: Ex vivo cadaveric. Methods: Stifles (n = 7 OA and 17 control [CO]) were retrieved from a tissue bank. The MFC and MFT were imaged with μCT. Regions of interest (ROIs) were cranial (MFCcr; MTPcr) and caudal (MFCca; MTPca) sites. In each ROI, μCT images were scored for HAC fibrillation, surface mineralisation and for the presence of high-density mineralised protrusions (HDMP). The lesions were mapped, and site-matched histology was performed. Results: The microstructure of healthy and abnormal HAC was discernible on μCT images and confirmed with histology. HAC fibrillation was more prevalent (p = 0.019) in the MFCcr of the OA group (n = 7/7, 100%) when compared with the CO group (n = 7/17, 41%). Score 1 HAC surface mineralisation was more prevalent (p = 0.038) in the OA MFCca (n = 4/7, 57%) when compared with the CO group (n = 2/17, 12%). HDMP were heterogenous and hyperdense mineralised material protruding into the HAC and were more frequent (p = 0.033) in MFCs (n = 12/24, 50%) compared with MTPs (n = 5/24, 20%). Score 3 HDMPs were also more prevalent (p = 0.003) in the MFCcr (n = 7/24, 29%) compared with MFCca (n = 0/24, 0%) and in MFCs (n = 7/24, 29%) compared with MTPs (n = 3/24, 12.5%) (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Clinical history was not available for all specimens. Conclusions: Equine HDMP and HAC surface mineralisation are imaged for the first time in the MFT joint. HAC fibrillation and erosion and HDMP are more frequent in the cranial aspect of the MFC. μCT images of OA in equine stifle joints provide a novel perspective of lesions and improve understanding of OA.
© 2024 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-08 PubMed ID: 38720453PubMed Central: PMC11616958DOI: 10.1111/evj.14100Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

Overview

  • This study used micro-computed tomography (μCT) to examine and map cartilage damage and mineralized lesions in the medial femorotibial (MFT) compartment of equine stifle joints, comparing osteoarthritic (OA) and control horses.

Background and Objective

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) commonly affects the stifle joint in horses, especially in the medial femorotibial compartment, specifically the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial plateau (MTP).
  • Identifying and mapping microstructural cartilage changes can aid veterinarians in accurate diagnosis and understanding of OA progression.
  • The study objective was to investigate microstructural abnormalities in hyaline articular cartilage (HAC) using μCT imaging in the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau.

Methods

  • Samples: 24 equine stifle joints were obtained from a tissue bank – 7 with osteoarthritis (OA group) and 17 controls (CO group).
  • Imaging: The medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial plateau (MTP) regions were scanned with μCT to produce high-resolution images of cartilage microstructure.
  • Regions of interest (ROIs): Both cranial and caudal sites of MFC and MTP were examined, labeled as MFCcr, MFCca, MTPcr, MTPca.
  • Scoring: Images were evaluated and scored for:
    • HAC fibrillation – surface roughening and cartilage breakdown.
    • Surface mineralisation – extent of mineral deposits on HAC surface.
    • High-density mineralised protrusions (HDMP) – identified as dense mineralized structures protruding into the HAC.
  • Histology was performed on site-matched cartilage tissue to confirm and compare μCT findings.

Results

  • μCT imaging differentiated healthy cartilage microstructure from abnormal lesions, which histology confirmed.
  • HAC fibrillation:
    • Significantly more prevalent in the cranial medial femoral condyle (MFCcr) in OA horses (100% of OA samples) vs controls (41%).
  • Surface mineralisation:
    • Score 1 level mineral deposits were more common in the caudal medial femoral condyle (MFCca) of OA horses (57%) compared to controls (12%).
  • High-density mineralised protrusions (HDMP):
    • HDMPs were heterogeneous, dense mineral protrusions into the cartilage, more frequent in MFC (50%) versus MTP (20%).
    • More severe HDMPs (Score 3) were predominantly located at the cranial MFC (29%) and absent in caudal MFC (0%), with significantly higher occurrence in MFC than MTP.

Conclusions

  • The study is the first to use μCT to image and map mineralized protrusions and HAC surface mineralisation in equine medial femorotibial joints.
  • Findings indicate that osteoarthritic changes such as cartilage fibrillation, erosion, and HDMP mainly localize to the cranial part of the medial femoral condyle.
  • Micro-CT provides detailed visualization of osteoarthritic lesions, offering a novel perspective that may enhance understanding, diagnosis, and potentially treatment planning of equine stifle OA.
  • Limitations include lack of clinical histories for some specimens, which may influence lesion interpretation.

Cite This Article

APA
Ducrocq M, Kamus L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Janvier V, Laverty S. (2024). Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage. Equine Vet J, 57(1), 203-216. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14100

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 1
Pages: 203-216

Researcher Affiliations

Ducrocq, Mathilde
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Kamus, Louis
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Richard, Hélène
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Beauchamp, Guy
  • Département de Biomedecine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Janvier, Valentin
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.
Laverty, Sheila
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Stifle / diagnostic imaging
  • Stifle / pathology
  • X-Ray Microtomography / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Osteoarthritis / veterinary
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / pathology
  • Cadaver

Grant Funding

  • CF00142067 / Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
  • DF1_130184 / Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Santé

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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