FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2013; 45(5); 587-592; doi: 10.1111/evj.12036

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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2013-02-19 PubMed ID: 23418959DOI: 10.1111/evj.12036Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 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

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 5
Pages: 587-592

Researcher Affiliations

Pinchbeck, G L
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
Clegg, P D
    Boyde, A
      Riggs, C M

        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 10 times.
        1. 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).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13172780pubmed: 37685045google scholar: lookup
        2. 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).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13050827pubmed: 36899684google scholar: lookup
        3. 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.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.923356pubmed: 35847629google scholar: lookup
        4. Boyde A. The Bone Cartilage Interface and Osteoarthritis. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Sep;109(3):303-328.
          doi: 10.1007/s00223-021-00866-9pubmed: 34086084google scholar: lookup
        5. 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.
          doi: 10.1111/joa.12794pubmed: 29446086google scholar: lookup
        6. 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.
          doi: 10.1111/joa.12177pubmed: 24689513google scholar: lookup
        7. 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.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.12038pubmed: 23425384google scholar: lookup
        8. Malekipour F, Whitton RC, Muir P, Lee PV. Standing CT-based finite element models efficiently identify regions of high mechanical strain in equine metacarpal subchondral bone. Sci Rep 2025 Dec 11;16(1):1166.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30921-6pubmed: 41381693google scholar: lookup
        9. Pan M, Malekipour F, Pivonka P, Morrice-West AV, Flegg JA, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. A mathematical model of metacarpal subchondral bone adaptation, microdamage and repair in racehorses. J R Soc Interface 2025 Oct;22(231):20250297.
          doi: 10.1098/rsif.2025.0297pubmed: 41027486google scholar: lookup
        10. Anderson JR, Phelan MM, Caamaño-Gutiérrez E, Clegg PD, Rubio-Martinez LM, Peffers MJ. Metabolomic and proteomic stratification of equine osteoarthritis. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1204-1218.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.14490pubmed: 39972657google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.