Subchondral bone density and cartilage degeneration patterns in osteoarthritic metacarpal condyles of horses.
Abstract: To evaluate and correlate patterns of subchondral bone density and articular cartilage degeneration (derived by use of gross, histologic, and computed tomographic [CT] examinations) in equine third metacarpal condyles with and without osteoarthritis. Methods: 8 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (n = 4 horses) without osteoarthritis and 6 osteoarthritis-affected MCP joints (4). Methods: Horses were euthanized. The third metacarpal condyles of the joints were examined grossly and via CT (3 slice images/condyle). For 6 condylar zones, mean bone density and pattern of density distribution were determined. Data for osteoarthritis-affected and control joints were compared. Histomorphometric point count analyses identified areas of bone density for comparison with CT density measurements. Results: Osteoarthritis-affected condyles had heterogeneous subchondral bone with focal resorptive lesions and patterned sclerosis, whereas control condyles had symmetric bone density distribution. In osteoarthritis-affected condyles, bone density determined via gray scale image density analysis was greater (dorsal and medial pattern), compared with control condyles, and differed among zones because of resorption and sclerosis. With regard to bone density in osteoarthritis-affected condyles, histologic findings correlated with CT images, and bone lesions were significantly correlated with cartilage lesions. Conclusions: In horses, heterogeneous distribution and greater subchondral bone density were characteristic of osteoarthritis-affected condyles, compared with control condyles. Subchondral bone lesions correlated with overlying cartilage lesions in osteoarthritis-affected MCP joints. Identification of CT image characteristics appears to predict the presence of a cartilage lesion in MCP joints of horses with osteoarthritis.
Publication Date: 2007-08-03 PubMed ID: 17669024DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.68.8.841Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Anatomy
- Articular Cartilage
- Bones
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Computed Tomography
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Histology
- Horses
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Osteoarthritis
- Radiology
- Subchondral Bone
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research study investigates the relationship between subchondral bone density and cartilage degeneration in horses’ metacarpal condyles affected by osteoarthritis. The researchers found that osteoarthritis-affected condyles displayed an uneven bone density distribution and increased subchondral bone density compared to control group, and these bone alterations were highly correlated with cartilage damage.
Research Methodology
- The study involved two groups of equine metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints: eight MCP joints from four healthy horses, and six MPC joints from horses suffering from osteoarthritis.
- The horses in the study were euthanized, and the third metacarpal condyles from the horses’ joints were examined using gross examination and computed tomography (CT).
- For each condyle, three CT slice images were used to determine the mean bone density and pattern of density distribution across six condylar zones.
- A histomorphometric point count analysis was also used to identify areas of bone density which were then compared to CT density measurements.
Research Results
- The osteoarthritis-affected condyles showed heterogeneous subchondral bone with focal resorptive lesions and patterned sclerosis, while the control condyles demonstrated symmetrical bone density distribution.
- The bone density, determined via gray scale image density analysis, was found to be greater (dorsal and medial pattern) in osteoarthritis-affected condyles compared to controls, and it varied among different zones due to resorption and sclerosis.
- When examining bone density in osteoarthritis-affected condyles, the histologic findings correlated well with the CT images.
- Significantly, the research found a strong correlation between the bone lesions and cartilage lesions in osteoarthritis-affected condyles.
Research Conclusions
- In the osteoarthritis-affected condyles, characteristic traits were a heterogeneous distribution and a higher subchondral bone density compared to the control condyles.
- The study confirmed the correlation between subchondral bone lesions and corresponding cartilage damage in osteoarthritis-affected MCP joints.
- This research demonstrates that CT image characteristics can potentially predict the presence of cartilage lesions in the MCP joints of horses suffering from osteoarthritis.
Cite This Article
APA
Young BD, Samii VF, Mattoon JS, Weisbrode SE, Bertone AL.
(2007).
Subchondral bone density and cartilage degeneration patterns in osteoarthritic metacarpal condyles of horses.
Am J Vet Res, 68(8), 841-849.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.68.8.841 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratories, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Density / physiology
- Cartilage / pathology
- Forelimb / pathology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joints / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- McCarty CA, Thomason JJ, Gordon KD, Burkhart TA, Milner JS, Holdsworth DW. Finite-Element Analysis of Bone Stresses on Primary Impact in a Large-Animal Model: The Distal End of the Equine Third Metacarpal. PLoS One 2016;11(7):e0159541.
- Smith AD, Morton AJ, Winter MD, Colahan PT, Ghivizzani S, Brown MP, Hernandez JA, Nickerson DM. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCORING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE EQUINE CARPUS. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016 Sep;57(5):502-14.
- Knott L, Avery NC, Hollander AP, Tarlton JF. Regulation of osteoarthritis by omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in a naturally occurring model of disease. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2011 Sep;19(9):1150-7.
- Schneider E, Lo GH, Sloane G, Fanella L, Hunter DJ, Eaton CB, McAlindon TE. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of weight-bearing subchondral trabecular bone in the knee. Skeletal Radiol 2011 Jan;40(1):95-103.
- Menendez M, Ishihara A, Weisbrode S, Bertone A. Radiofrequency energy on cortical bone and soft tissue: a pilot study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2010 Apr;468(4):1157-64.
- Beck C, Morrice-West AV, Muir P, Hitchens PL, Whitton RC. Quantification of the difference in hounsfield units of an electron density phantom between a conventional and standing computed tomography machine. Vet Res Commun 2025 Jun 17;49(4):228.
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