Subchondral bone failure in overload arthrosis: a scanning electron microscopic study in horses.
Abstract: Mechanical overload leads to a common arthrosis in the metacarpal condyle of the fetlock joint of racehorses. This is usually asymptomatic but severe forms can cause lameness. Subchondral bone failure is often present and the predictability of the site provided an opportunity to study of the progression of bone failure from microcracks to actual collapse of subchondral bone. Twenty-five fetlock condyles from racehorses with various stages of disease were selected. Stages ranged from mild through severe subchondral bone sclerosis, to the collapse of bone and indentation or loss of cartilage known as 'traumatic osteochondrosis'. Parasagittal slices were radiographed and examined with scanning electron microscopy. Fine matrix cracks were seen in the subchondral bone layer above the calcified cartilage and suggested loss of water or other non-collagenous components. The earliest microcracks appeared to develop in the sclerotic bone within 1-3 mm of the calcified cartilage layer and extend parallel to it in irregular branching lines. Longer cracks or microfractures appeared to develop gaps as fragmentation occurred along the margins. Occasional osteoclastic resorption sites along the fracture lines indicated activated remodeling may have caused previous weakening. In one sample, smoothly ground fragments were found in a fracture gap. Bone collapse occurred when there was compaction of the fragmented matrix along the microfracture. Bone collapse and fracture lines through the calcified cartilage were associated with indentation of articular cartilage at the site.
Publication Date: 2006-12-05 PubMed ID: 17142946
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study examines how mechanical overload can cause a common arthrosis in racehorses, leading to subchondral bone failure. The researchers investigated the progression of this bone failure by examining the bones of 25 racehorses with varying stages of the disease.
Research Methodology
- The research study focused on the metacarpal condyle of the fetlock joint of racehorses. This particular joint is commonly affected by arthrosis due to excessive mechanical load during racing. In some severe cases, the impact causes lameness in horses.
- Twenty-five fetlock condyles from different racehorses with stages of disease ranging from mild subchondral bone sclerosis to severe bone collapse were selected for this study.
- Parasagittal slices of these condyles were radiographed and examined through scanning electron microscopy to provide a detailed analysis of the bone structure.
Results and Findings
- The early signs of subchondral bone failure were fine matrix cracks in the bone layer just above the calcified cartilage. These were believed to be caused by the loss of water or other non-collagenous components in the bone structure.
- The development of microcracks was noticed in the sclerotic bone within close proximity to the calcified cartilage layer. These cracks were aligned parallel to the cartilage layer and expanded in irregular branching lines.
- As the condition worsened, larger cracks or microfractures developed gaps, resulting in fragmentation along their margins.
- There were instances of osteoclast resorption sites along the fracture lines, which indicated that activated bone remodeling may have caused a weakening in the bone structure.
- Bone collapse occurred due to the compaction of the fragmented matrix along these microfractures. If a bone collapse took place, fracture lines were noticed through the calcified cartilage. This was associated with indentation at the articular cartilage at the site of the fracture.
The study provides a deeper understanding of bone failure in racehorses and their progression. It may aid in developing effective preventative measures and treatments to mitigate the impact of this widespread issue.
Cite This Article
APA
Norrdin RW, Stover SM.
(2006).
Subchondral bone failure in overload arthrosis: a scanning electron microscopic study in horses.
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 6(3), 251-257.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. rnorrdin@colostate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone and Bones / pathology
- Bone and Bones / ultrastructure
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / pathology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / injuries
- Metatarsophalangeal Joint / injuries
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
- Osteoarthritis / complications
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- 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.
- Kaspiris A, Chronopoulos E, Vasiliadis E, Khaldi L, Melissaridou D, Iliopoulos ID, Savvidou OD. Sex, but not age and bone mass index positively impact on the development of osteochondral micro-defects and the accompanying cellular alterations during osteoarthritis progression. Chronic Dis Transl Med 2022 Mar;8(1):41-50.
- Rothschild BM, Wayne Lambert H. Distinguishing between congenital phenomena and traumatic experiences: Osteochondrosis versus osteochondritis. J Orthop 2021 Jan-Feb;23:185-190.
- Goldring SR, Goldring MB. Changes in the osteochondral unit during osteoarthritis: structure, function and cartilage-bone crosstalk. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2016 Nov;12(11):632-644.
- Laverty S, Lacourt M, Gao C, Henderson JE, Boyde A. High density infill in cracks and protrusions from the articular calcified cartilage in osteoarthritis in standardbred horse carpal bones. Int J Mol Sci 2015 Apr 28;16(5):9600-11.
- Maninchedda U, Lepage OM, Gangl M, Hilairet S, Remandet B, Meot F, Penarier G, Segard E, Cortez P, Jorgensen C, Steinberg R. Development of an equine groove model to induce metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis: a pilot study on 6 horses. PLoS One 2015;10(2):e0115089.
- 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.
- McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. The horse as a model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Bone Joint Res 2012 Nov;1(11):297-309.
- Whitton RC, Mirams M, Mackie EJ, Anderson GA, Seeman E. Exercise-induced inhibition of remodelling is focally offset with fatigue fracture in racehorses. Osteoporos Int 2013 Jul;24(7):2043-8.
- Ayodele BA, Malekipour F, Pagel CN, Mackie EJ, Whitton RC. Assessment of subchondral bone microdamage quantification using contrast-enhanced imaging techniques. J Anat 2024 Jul;245(1):58-69.
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