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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anat / Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses ...
Journal of anatomy2018; 232(6); 919-930; doi: 10.1111/joa.12794

Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses in training changes with distance from the articular surface but not with age.

Abstract: The repetitive large loads generated during high-speed training and racing commonly cause subchondral bone injuries in the metacarpal condyles of racehorses. Adaptive bone modelling leads to focal sclerosis at the site of highest loading in the palmar aspect of the metacarpal condyles. Information on whether and how adaptive modelling of subchondral bone changes during the career of a racehorse is sparse. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the changes in subchondral bone micromorphology in the area of highest loading in the palmar aspect of the metacarpal condyle in thoroughbred racehorses as a function of age and training. Bone morphology parameters derived from micro-CT images were evaluated using principal component analysis and mixed-effects linear regression models. The largest differences in micromorphology were observed in untrained horses between the age of 16 and 20 months. Age and duration of a training period had no influence on tissue mineral density, bone volume fraction or number and area of closed pores to a depth of 5.1 mm from the articular surface in 2- to 4-year-old racehorses in training. Horses with subchondral bone injuries had more pores in cross-section compared with horses without subchondral bone injuries. Differences in bone volume fraction were due to the volume of less mineralised bone. Tissue mineral density increased and bone volume fraction decreased with increasing distance from the articular surface up to 5.1 mm from the articular surface. Further research is required to elucidate the biomechanical and pathophysiological consequences of these gradients of micromorphological parameters in the subchondral bone.
© 2018 Anatomical Society.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-15 PubMed ID: 29446086PubMed Central: PMC5979622DOI: 10.1111/joa.12794Google 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 how subchondral bone micromorphology – the structure of bones below the cartilage – in racehorses’ metacarpal condyles (part of a horse’s leg bone) changes in response to age and training. The study finds that these bone changes are more prevalent in untrained horses, specifically those aged 16 to 20 months, but not influenced by the age or training duration of 2 to 4-year-old racehorses. Changes occurred closer to the surface of the bones, and horses with bone injuries exhibited more porous bone structure.

Objective of Research

  • The study aimed to understand how subchondral bone micromorphology in thoroughbred racehorses is influenced by age and training intensity. This was prompted by the commonly noticed subchondral bone injuries in racehorses, often resulting from high-speed training and racing.

Methods Used

  • The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study, observing bone morphology parameters through micro-CT images and principal component analysis.
  • These images were further evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression models.

Key Findings

  • The study concluded that the most significant variations in bone micromorphology were seen in untrained horses between 16 to 20 months old.
  • Age and duration of the training period did not influence tissue mineral density, bone volume fraction, or number and area of closed pores up to a depth of 5.1 mm from the articular surface in 2 to 4-year-old racehorses in training.
  • Horses with subchondral bone injuries had a higher number of pores in the cross-section compared with healthy horses. The differences in the bone volume fraction were due to the volume of less mineralised bone.
  • Tissue mineral density increased, and bone volume fraction decreased with an increase in the distance from the articular surface up to 5.1 mm.

Further Research

  • The study suggests that further exploration is needed to understand the biomechanical and pathophysiological consequences of these gradients of micromorphological parameters in the subchondral bone.

Cite This Article

APA
Martig S, Hitchens PL, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC. (2018). Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses in training changes with distance from the articular surface but not with age. J Anat, 232(6), 919-930. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12794

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 1469-7580
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 232
Issue: 6
Pages: 919-930

Researcher Affiliations

Martig, Sandra
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.
Hitchens, Peta L
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.
Stevenson, Mark A
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Whitton, R Chris
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic., Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Density / physiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horses
  • Metacarpal Bones / pathology
  • Metacarpus / pathology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 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. 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.
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