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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Preliminary study of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ...
Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14086

Preliminary study of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess bone marrow adiposity in the third metacarpus or metatarsus in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to investigate metabolic changes within human bone. It may be possible to use MRS to investigate bone metabolism and fracture risk in the distal third metacarpal/tarsal bone (MC/MTIII) in racehorses. Objective: To determine the feasibility of using MRS as a quantitative imaging technique in equine bone by using the H spectra for the MC/MTIII to calculate fat content (FC). Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Limbs from Thoroughbred racehorses were collected from horses that died or were subjected to euthanasia on racecourses. Each limb underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T followed by single-voxel MRS at three regions of interest (ROI) within MC/MTIII (lateral condyle, medial condyle, proximal bone marrow [PBM]). Percentage FC was calculated at each ROI. Each limb underwent computed tomography (CT) and bone mineral density (BMD) was calculated for the same ROIs. All MR and CT images were graded for sclerosis. Histology slides were graded for sclerosis and proximal marrow space was calculated. Pearson or Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between BMD, FC and marrow space. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to check for differences between sclerosis groups for BMD or FC. Results: Eighteen limbs from 10 horses were included. A negative correlation was identified for mean BMD and FC for the lateral condyle (correlation coefficient = -0.60, p = 0.01) and PBM (correlation coefficient = -0.5, p = 0.04). There was a significant difference between median BMD for different sclerosis grades in the condyles on both MRI and CT. A significant difference in FC was identified between sclerosis groups in the lateral condyle on MRI and CT. Conclusions: Small sample size. Conclusions: H Proton MRS is feasible in the equine MC/MTIII. Further work is required to evaluate the use of this technique to predict fracture risk in racehorses.
© 2024 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-03 PubMed ID: 38699829DOI: 10.1111/evj.14086Google 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.

This research investigates the possibility of using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) to assess bone health and fracture risk in racehorses by measuring fat content in select areas of their bones. The study uses horse legs obtained postmortem, evaluated them with MRS, MRI, and CT scans, and found a significant correlation between bone density and fat content. Despite the small sample size, the study confirms that using MRS in this manner is feasible and warrants further research.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The goal of this research was to explore the potential use of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) as a means to quantitatively assess bone condition in horses’ legs, specifically the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone (MC/MTIII).
  • They used this technique to calculate the fat content of the bone, because changes in this measurement could potentially indicate bone health problems.
  • The team collected the limbs of Thoroughbred racehorses that had died or were euthanized on the racecourse. Each leg was compensated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at 3T, followed by MRS analysis at three regions of interest within the MC/MTIII (the lateral condyle, medial condyle, and proximal bone marrow [PBM]).
  • The fat content at each region of interest was calculated and then each limb underwent Computed Tomography (CT) to calculate the bone mineral density (BMD) at the same regions. All images were subsequently rated for sclerosis, and histological slides were created and evaluated.

Results of the Study

  • The research included the legs of 10 different horses, totaling 18 limbs. The team discovered a significant negative correlation between bone mineral density and fat content in the lateral condyle and proximal bone marrow, with certain sclerosis grades also exhibiting significant differences in mineral density and fat content.
  • These results suggested that as bone density increases, fat content decreases and vice versa, indicating a possible relationship between the two.
  • Although the sample was small, meaning larger studies will be needed for confirmation, the initial results demonstrate that using Proton MRS to study bone condition in horses is indeed achievable.

Study Conclusions

  • The researchers successfully used Proton MRS to explore bone health in racehorses, though they emphasized the small sample size in their conclusion. Despite this limitation, they were able to establish measurable correlations between BMD, fat content, and sclerosis.
  • The researchers concluded that further research is required to fully evaluate the use of this technique in predicting the risk of bone fractures in racehorses.

Cite This Article

APA
Hewitt-Dedman CL, Kershaw LE, Schwarz T, Del-Pozo J, Duncan J, Daniel CR, Cillán-García E, Pressanto MC, Taylor SE. (2024). Preliminary study of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess bone marrow adiposity in the third metacarpus or metatarsus in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14086

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Hewitt-Dedman, Charlotte L
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Kershaw, Lucy E
  • BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science and Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Schwarz, Tobias
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Del-Pozo, Jorge
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Duncan, Juliet
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Daniel, Carola R
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Cillán-García, Eugenio
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Pressanto, Maria Chiara
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.
Taylor, Sarah E
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, UK.

Grant Funding

  • Horserace Betting Levy Board

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