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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anat / Microstructural changes in cartilage and bone related to rep...
Journal of anatomy2014; 224(6); 647-658; doi: 10.1111/joa.12177

Microstructural changes in cartilage and bone related to repetitive overloading in an equine athlete model.

Abstract: The palmar aspect of the third metacarpal (MC3) condyle of equine athletes is known to be subjected to repetitive overloading that can lead to the accumulation of joint tissue damage, degeneration, and stress fractures, some of which result in catastrophic failure. However, there is still a need to understand at a detailed microstructural level how this damage progresses in the context of the wider joint tissue complex, i.e. the articular surface, the hyaline and calcified cartilage, and the subchondral bone. MC3 bones from non-fractured joints were obtained from the right forelimbs of 16 Thoroughbred racehorses varying in age between 3 and 8 years, with documented histories of active race training. Detailed microstructural analysis of two clinically important sites, the parasagittal grooves and the mid-condylar regions, identified extensive levels of microdamage in the calcified cartilage and subchondral bone concealed beneath outwardly intact hyaline cartilage. The study shows a progression in microdamage severity, commencing with mild hard-tissue microcracking in younger animals and escalating to severe subchondral bone collapse and lesion formation in the hyaline cartilage with increasing age and thus athletic activity. The presence of a clearly distinguishable fibrous tissue layer at the articular surface immediately above sites of severe subchondral collapse suggested a limited reparative response in the hyaline cartilage.
© 2014 Anatomical Society.
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Publication Date: 2014-04-01 PubMed ID: 24689513PubMed Central: PMC4025892DOI: 10.1111/joa.12177Google 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.

The research article discusses a study on how repetitive physical stress can cause microdamage in the cartilage and bone of equine athletes, particularly in the third metacarpal (MC3) condyle of the right forelimb. The findings demonstrate a progression in severity of this microdamage over time, from mild microcracking in younger racehorses to more prominent subchondral bone collapse and lesions in older horses.

Objective and Sample Selection

  • This study aimed to examine microstructural changes in both cartilage and bone following continuous athletic activity in racehorses. Essentially, the research sought to better understand how and why physical degradation occurs in the joints of equine athletes.
  • The sample included MC3 bones from the right forelimbs of 16 Thoroughbred racehorses, ages ranging from 3 to 8, with documented training histories.

Methodology and Findings

  • The researchers conducted a detailed microstructural analysis of two clinically significant sites: the parasagittal grooves and mid-condylar regions.
  • The analysis found extensive levels of microdamage in the calcified cartilage and subchondral bone, hidden under outwardly intact hyaline cartilage.
  • The study discovered a trend in the progression of microdamage severity, correlated to the increasing age of the horses and the duration of athletic activity. This ranged from minor hard-tissue microcracking in younger horses to severe subchondral bone collapse and lesion formation in the hyaline cartilage of older horses.

Significance of the Study

  • The study’s findings present valuable insights into how chronic overloading during training and racing leads to joint tissue degradation in equine athletes. This could be crucial information for developing preventive measures and treatments.
  • The study also observed a distinct fibrous tissue layer at the articular surface, situated immediately above severely damaged subchondral sites. The researchers proposed this may indicate a limited reparative response in the hyaline cartilage.

Cite This Article

APA
Turley SM, Thambyah A, Riggs CM, Firth EC, Broom ND. (2014). Microstructural changes in cartilage and bone related to repetitive overloading in an equine athlete model. J Anat, 224(6), 647-658. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12177

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 1469-7580
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 224
Issue: 6
Pages: 647-658

Researcher Affiliations

Turley, Sean M
  • Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Thambyah, Ashvin
    Riggs, Christopher M
      Firth, Elwyn C
        Broom, Neil D

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Bone and Bones
          • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
          • Fractures, Bone / pathology
          • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Metacarpal Bones / pathology
          • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects

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