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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Proximal sesamoid bone microdamage is localized to articular...
Veterinary surgery : VS2022; 51(6); 952-962; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13816

Proximal sesamoid bone microdamage is localized to articular subchondral regions in Thoroughbred racehorses, with similar fracture toughness between fracture and controls.

Abstract: To determine whether proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) microdamage and fracture toughness differ between Thoroughbred racehorses sustaining PSB fracture and controls. Methods: Cadaveric case-control. Methods: Twenty-four Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 12 PSB fracture, n = 12 control). Methods: Proximal sesamoid bones were dissected, and gross pathological changes and morphological measurements were documented. High-speed exercise history data were evaluated. Microdamage was assessed in fracture, fracture-contralateral limb (FXCL) and control PSBs using whole bone lead uranyl acetate (LUA) staining with micro-CT imaging or basic fuchsin histological analysis. Fracture toughness mechanical testing was carried out in 3-point-bending of microbeams created from PSB flexor cortices. Data were analyzed using ordinal logistic and linear regression models. Results: Microdamage was detected most commonly in the articular subchondral region of PSBs via LUA micro-CT and basic fuchsin histology. There were no differences in microdamage between FXCL and control PSBs. Fracture toughness values were similar for FXCL (1.31 MPa√m) and control (1.35 MPa√m) PSBs. Exercise histories were similar except that horses sustaining fracture spent a greater percentage of their careers in rest weeks. Conclusions: Microdamage was detected in the articular region of PSBs but was not greater in horses sustaining catastrophic PSB fracture. Fracture toughness of PSB flexor cortices did not differ between FXCL and control PSBs. Conclusions: Although uncommon, microdamage is localized to the articular region of Thoroughbred racehorse PSBs. Catastrophic PSB failure is not associated with lower PSB flexor cortex fracture toughness.
© 2022 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2022-06-07 PubMed ID: 35672916DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13816Google 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 explores the microdamage and fracture toughness in the proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) of racehorses, finding no significant disparity between horses that sustained PSB fracture and the control horses.

Research Methodology

  • The study compiles a case-control group consisting of 24 Thoroughbred racehorses, half of which suffering from PSB fracture, and the other half serving as the controls.
  • The PSBs of these horses were dissected and examined for any gross pathological changes and morphological measurements. Their high-speed exercise history data were also evaluated.
  • To assess microdamage in the PSBs, two methods were used. The first method involved staining the whole bone with lead uranyl acetate (LUA) and imaging it with micro-CT. The other method involved basic fuchsin histological analysis. The bones from fractured and control horses were studied and compared.
  • Testing for fracture toughness was conducted using the 3-point-bending technique on microbeams, created from PSB flexor cortices. The data gathered were analyzed using ordinal logistic and linear regression models.

Research Findings

  • Microdamage, detected most commonly in the articular subchondral region of PSBs, showed no significant difference between the control group and the group with fractures.
  • The study also found comparable fracture toughness in both fracture and control groups. The exercise histories of the horses also showed similarities, except for a higher percentage of career rest weeks among the horses that suffered fractures.
  • Despite its rarity, microdamage is localized to the articular region of racehorse PSBs. However, catastrophic PSB failure was not found to be associated with lower PSB flexor cortex fracture toughness.

Conclusions

The study concludes that horses enduring catastrophic PSB fractures do not necessarily have higher levels of microdamage or lesser fracture toughness in their PSB flexor cortices. This research plays a significant role in the understanding of bone health and injury mechanisms, particularly for racehorses which often face occupational risks of bone fractures. Additional considerations outside of the research’s scope may offer more insight into why certain horses are more prone to catastrophic PSB fractures than others.

Cite This Article

APA
Luedke LK, Ilevbare P, Noordwijk KJ, Palomino PM, McDonough SP, Palmer SE, Basran PS, Donnelly E, Reesink HL. (2022). Proximal sesamoid bone microdamage is localized to articular subchondral regions in Thoroughbred racehorses, with similar fracture toughness between fracture and controls. Vet Surg, 51(6), 952-962. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13816

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 6
Pages: 952-962

Researcher Affiliations

Luedke, Lauren K
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Ilevbare, Phoebe
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Noordwijk, Kira J
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Palomino, Pablo M
  • Cornell University College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, New York, USA.
McDonough, Sean P
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Palmer, Scott E
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Basran, Parminder S
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Donnelly, Eve
  • Cornell University College of Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Reesink, Heidi L
  • Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Fractures, Bone / pathology
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Sesamoid Bones / pathology
  • X-Ray Microtomography / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research to HLR
  • Harry M. Zweig Resident Research Grant to LKL and HLR
  • NSF CMMI 1452852 to ED and NSF DGE-1144153 to PMP / National Science Foundation:
  • National Institutes of Health: S10OD025049 to Cornell University Biotechnology Resource Center, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (S10OD025049 to Cornell University Biotechnology Resource Center)

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. 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
  2. Shaffer SK, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP. Training drives turnover rates in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones. Sci Rep 2023 Jan 27;13(1):205.
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  3. Malekipour F, Whitton RC, Lee PV. Advancements in Subchondral Bone Biomechanics: Insights from Computed Tomography and Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging in Equine Models. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2024 Dec;22(6):544-552.
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