Pathological and clinical features associated with palmar/plantar osteochondral disease of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (Mc/MtPh) joints is common in Thoroughbred racehorses, but there is little information on predilection sites, associated pathologies and clinical signs. Objective: To describe the distribution of POD at post mortem examination and to examine the association of POD with other pathologies and clinical histories. Methods: The Mc/MtPh joints of 102 Thoroughbred racehorses were examined post mortem. Gross pathology of associated osteochondral elements, suspensory ligament and flexor tendons was recorded. Clinical data were extracted from computerised records. Relationships between all Mc/MtPh joint pathologies, clinical data and grade of POD in each condyle were determined using multilevel, ordinal logistic regression models. Results: Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease was recorded (grade 1-3 in at least one condyle) in 80.4% (95% confidence interval 71-88) of horses. The grade of POD was significantly higher in the forelimb, where the medial condyle had higher grades, than in the hindlimb, where the POD grade was higher in the lateral condyle. There was a significant positive relationship between POD grade and multiple other joint pathologies, whereas grades of linear fissures had a negative relationship with grade of POD. There was no relationship between grade of POD and tendon and suspensory ligament gross pathology, although horses with a history of tendon injury had significantly lower POD grades. Horses that had a clinical history of a Mc/MtPh joint problem had higher POD grades. In addition, horses that had been retired from racing for more than 2 months at the date of death had significantly lower POD grades. Conclusions: Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease has specific predilection sites. Horses with a clinical history of Mc/MtPh-associated lameness had higher POD grades, whereas those with a history of superficial digital flexor tendon injury and retired horses had lower grades. The progression of POD and its ability to heal requires further evaluation.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-02-19 PubMed ID: 23418959DOI: 10.1111/evj.12036Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study analyzed the occurrence of palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) in the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of Thoroughbred racehorses, including its associated pathological features and clinical signs. Examining post-mortem data from 102 horses, the study indicated that horses with a history of joint issues tended to have higher grades of POD, whereas those with tendon injuries or longer periods of retirement from racing had lower grades.
Methodology
- The research examined the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of 102 Thoroughbred racehorses post mortem.
- They noted gross pathology of linked osteochondral elements, the suspensory ligament, and flexor tendons.
- Clinical data from computerized records was also scrutinized.
- Multiple variable logistic regression models for ordinal data were utilized to recognize associations between all metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint pathologies, clinical data, and grade of POD in each condyle.
Results
- The study manifested POD (grade 1-3 in at least one condyle) in 80.4% of the horses in the study. The distribution was markedly higher in the forelimb, especially the medial condyle.
- A significant positive relationship was found between the grade of POD and presented multiple other joint pathologies. In contrast, grades of linear fissures showcased a negative relationship with the grade of POD.
- There were no direct links found between grade of POD and the gross pathology of the tendon and suspensory ligament. However, horses with a history of tendon injuries notably had reduced grades of POD.
- Horses with clinical histories of metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint issues had higher grades of POD.
- Racehorses retired for more than two months at the time of death were found to have significantly lower grades of POD.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that palmar/plantar osteochondral disease has specific favoured sites.
- Horses with a noted history of metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal-associated lameness had higher grades of POD, while those with a history of superficial digital flexor tendon injury and horses retired had lower POD grades.
- The study suggests that further investigations are required to comprehensively understand the progression of POD and its healing potential in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Riggs CM.
(2013).
Pathological and clinical features associated with palmar/plantar osteochondral disease of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Equine Vet J, 45(5), 587-592.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12036 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joints
- Male
- Metacarpal Bones / pathology
- Metatarsal Bones / pathology
- Osteochondrosis / pathology
- Osteochondrosis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Daniel CR, Taylor SE, McPhee S, Wolfram U, Schwarz T, Sommer S, Kershaw LE. Relationship between CT-Derived Bone Mineral Density and UTE-MR-Derived Porosity Index in Equine Third Metacarpal and Metatarsal Bones.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 31;13(17).
- Noordwijk KJ, Chen L, Ruspi BD, Schurer S, Papa B, Fasanello DC, McDonough SP, Palmer SE, Porter IR, Basran PS, Donnelly E, Reesink HL. Metacarpophalangeal Joint Pathology and Bone Mineral Density Increase with Exercise but Not with Incidence of Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 24;13(5).
- Pearce DJ, Hitchens PL, Malekipour F, Ayodele B, Lee PVS, Whitton RC. Biomechanical and Microstructural Properties of Subchondral Bone From Three Metacarpophalangeal Joint Sites in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:923356.
- Boyde A. The Bone Cartilage Interface and Osteoarthritis.. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Sep;109(3):303-328.
- Martig S, Hitchens PL, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC. Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses in training changes with distance from the articular surface but not with age.. J Anat 2018 Jun;232(6):919-930.
- Turley SM, Thambyah A, Riggs CM, Firth EC, Broom ND. Microstructural changes in cartilage and bone related to repetitive overloading in an equine athlete model.. J Anat 2014 Jun;224(6):647-58.
- Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Barr ED, Riggs CM. Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in the racing Thoroughbred.. Equine Vet J 2013 Sep;45(5):582-6.
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