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Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(3); 601-613; doi: 10.1111/evj.13486

Microstructural features of subchondral radiolucent lesions in the medial femoral condyle of juvenile Thoroughbreds: A microcomputed tomography and histological analysis.

Abstract: The aetiology of equine medial femoral condyle (MFC) subchondral bone radiolucencies (SR) is unknown. Objective: Characterise the microstructural structural features of MFC SR in juvenile Thoroughbreds with microcomputed tomography (μCT) and histology. Methods: Cross-sectional post-mortem study. Methods: Distal femurs were collected at post-mortem. Conventional tomodensitometry was employed to scout for MFCs with and without SR lesions (SR+ and SR-, respectively). Group 1 were CT MFC SR+ and Group 2 age-matched SR- controls. Both underwent μCT and histological analysis. Group 3 CT MFC SR- foals, <6 months, were selected to search for chondronecrosis. Histological sections, processed from the lesion (Group 1) and a corresponding site in Groups 2 and 3, were assessed for chondronecrosis, fibrin, fibroplasia and osteochondral separation. Group 3 sections were surveyed for chondronecrosis alone. Results: A total of 178 femurs from 89 Thoroughbreds were harvested. Of these horses 19.1% (95% CI: 10.9%-27.3%) were CT MFC SR+ (17/23; 7.46 ± 4.36 months) and met the inclusion criteria for Group 1. Group 2 included 30 CT MFC SR- specimens (5.00 ± 2.73 months) and Group 3 had 44 CT MFC SR- s (2.68 ± 1.74 months). SR were located axially in foals <7 months of age, and centrally thereafter. All SRs had areas of thickened cartilage on histology and separation at the osteochondral junction containing fibrin (acute event) and fibroplasia (chronicity) in 73.9% (17/23; 95% CI: 56%-91.9%). In Group 1 specimens, chondronecrosis was present in 82.6% (19/23; 95% CI: 67.1%-98.1%) but four MFC SR+ had no evidence of chondronecrosis. Chondronecrosis was not detected in the Group 3 foal MFCs. Conclusions: No longitudinal follow-up. Conclusions: The absence of chondronecrosis, pathognomic of osteochondrosis, in four MFC SR+s and in all of the CT MFC SR- foals suggests that osteochondrosis is not the cause, or the only cause, of these lesions and favours trauma as an alternate aetiological hypothesis.
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-27 PubMed ID: 34117652DOI: 10.1111/evj.13486Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research focuses on understanding the microstructural features of bone lesions in the medial femoral condyle of juvenile Thoroughbred horses, using both microcomputed tomography and histological analysis. The findings from this study suggest that osteochondrosis, a common joint condition in horses, may not be the sole or primary cause of these lesions, and instead, trauma could be a possible cause.

Objective and Methods

  • The main goal of this research was to characterize and understand the microstructural features of subchondral bone radiolucencies (transparent areas observed during an X-ray examination) in the medial femoral condyle of young Thoroughbred horses. This was done through micro computed tomography (μCT) and histology, a technique used to study the microscopic structure of tissues.
  • The scientists performed a cross-sectional post-mortem study, collecting distal femurs during autopsies. They used tomodensitometry (a scanning process that uses X-rays to create a detailed volume of part of the body) to find femoral condyles both with and without radiolucent lesions.
  • Different groups were formed for the study. Group 1 included those specimens showing radiolucency (SR+) and Group 2 consisted of age-matched controls without radiolucency (SR-). Both these groups underwent μCT and histological analysis. Group 3 also consisted of specimens without radiolucency, but specifically from foals less than 6 months old. Further histological sections from lesions and corresponding sites were assessed for chondronecrosis, fibrin, fibroplasia, and osteochondral separation.

Results

  • A total of 178 femurs from 89 Thoroughbreds were collected. Of these, 19.1% showed radiolucent lesions and were included in Group 1.
  • All radiolucent lesions were found to have areas of thickened cartilage on histology and separation at the osteochondral junction containing fibrin (indicative of an acute injury event) and fibroplasia (indicating chronicity) in 73.9% of the cases.
  • Chondronecrosis, tissue death resulting from inadequate blood supply to the cartilage, was present in 82.6% of the specimens in Group 1. However, it was not detected in the young foals included in Group 3.

Conclusions

  • The absence of chondronecrosis in four specimens with radiolucent lesions and in all of the foals suggests that osteochondrosis, a disease affecting the growth of bone and cartilage, might not be the cause, or even the only cause, of these lesions.
  • Such findings indicate that other factors might be contributing to these lesions, proposing trauma as a possible alternate aetiological hypothesis. This highlights the need for further research in this area to fully understand the underlying causes of such conditions in young thoroughbred horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Lemirre T, Santschi EM, Girard CA, Fogarty U, Janes JG, Richard H, Laverty S. (2021). Microstructural features of subchondral radiolucent lesions in the medial femoral condyle of juvenile Thoroughbreds: A microcomputed tomography and histological analysis. Equine Vet J, 54(3), 601-613. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13486

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
Pages: 601-613

Researcher Affiliations

Lemirre, Thibeaut
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
Santschi, Elizabeth M
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Girard, Christiane A
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
Fogarty, Ursula
  • Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Ireland.
Janes, Jennifer G
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Richard, Helene
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
Laverty, Sheila
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epiphyses
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Fibrin
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Grant Funding

  • Quebec Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Network - Thu00e9Cell (a thematic network supported by the Fonds de recherche du Quu00e9bec-Santu00e9)
  • Fonds en Santu00e9 u00c9quine de la facultu00e9 de Mu00e9decine Vu00e9tu00e9rinaire de l'Universitu00e9 de Montru00e9al et Zoetis
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Ducrocq M, Kamus L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Janvier V, Laverty S. Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):203-216.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14100pubmed: 38720453google scholar: lookup
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