The impact of subchondral bone cysts on local bone stresses in the medial femoral condyle of the equine stifle joint.
Abstract: Subchondral lucency (SCL), also referred to as subchondral bone cysts, can cause clinical problems in horses and humans. In humans, SCLs occur in youths and adolescents [1] due to mechanical factors (often related to athletics) and in skeletally mature individuals secondary to osteoarthritis (OA). In horses, SCL most commonly occurs in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of growing horses (without OA), and causes lameness. The cause of equine SCL is debated, but bone trauma due to overload is the likely mechanism. Investigating the biomechanics of the healthy and cystic MFC is important to understand cyst growth and to provide a foundation for new treatment strategies. We hypothesize that SCL alters the mechanical environment of surrounding bone, which in the presence of continued loading, may lead to enlargement of the SCL. In this study, we developed and validated a finite element model of an equine stifle joint and investigated the stresses associated with varying sizes of SCL. We found substantial differences in tensile and shear stress at various stages of SCL development that suggest further bone damage leading to SCL enlargement. These data provide a first step in understanding of the altered mechanics of subchondral bone surrounding a SCL. Additional studies may provide the basis for improved treatment strategies for SCL in young horses, and may improve the understanding of SCL in humans.
Copyright © 2017 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-07-06 PubMed ID: 28690042DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2017.06.019Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This article discusses the research conducted to understand the impact of subchondral bone cysts (SCLs) on bone stress in the medial femoral condyle of horses’ stifle joints. The study uses a finite element model to investigate the changes in bone stress associated with varying sizes of these cysts.
Research Purpose and Hypothesis
- The research aimed to explore the biomechanics of healthy and cystic medial femoral condyles in horses. This understanding could shed light on the development of bone cysts and contribute to the development of novel treatment strategies.
- The researchers hypothesized that subchondral lucency (the technical term for bone cysts) alters the surrounding bone’s mechanical environment. Continued loading in this altered environment, they theorized, could lead to the enlargement of the cyst.
Methodology
- To test their hypothesis, the researchers developed a finite element model of a horse’s stifle joint. This model would allow them to investigate the stresses on the bone associated with different sizes of cysts.
Results and Discussion
- The results revealed considerable differences in tensile and shear stress at various stages of cyst development. These variations suggest an ongoing bone damage that could lead to further enlargement of the bone cyst.
- This research, therefore, provides a unique understanding of how the mechanics of the surrounding subchondral bone are altered by a bone cyst.
Implications
- These findings are a critical step towards understanding the changed mechanics within the subchondral bone around a bone cyst.
- Future research can build upon these insights to potentially improve treatment strategies for young horses suffering from bone cysts.
- This research could also improve the understanding of bone cysts in humans as cysts occur in both humans and horses, in similar circumstances like youthful athletic activity and in response to osteoarthritis in older individuals.
Cite This Article
APA
Frazer LL, Santschi EM, Fischer KJ.
(2017).
The impact of subchondral bone cysts on local bone stresses in the medial femoral condyle of the equine stifle joint.
Med Eng Phys, 48, 158-167.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2017.06.019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA. Electronic address: fischer@ku.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone Cysts
- Femur
- Horses
- Joints
- Stifle
- Stress, Mechanical
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Pál Z, Bodó G. Osteochondral allograft transplantation for treating medial femoral condyle subchondral bone cyst in a 14-year-old standardbred horse: a case report.. J Vet Sci 2023 May;24(3):e31.
- Kaspiris A, Hadjimichael AC, Lianou I, Iliopoulos ID, Ntourantonis D, Melissaridou D, Savvidou OD, Papadimitriou E, Chronopoulos E. Subchondral Bone Cyst Development in Osteoarthritis: From Pathophysiology to Bone Microarchitecture Changes and Clinical Implementations.. J Clin Med 2023 Jan 19;12(3).
- Ząbek T, Witarski W, Szmatoła T, Sawicki S, Mrozowicz J, Samiec M. Trichostatin A-Mediated Epigenetic Modulation Predominantly Triggers Transcriptomic Alterations in the Ex Vivo Expanded Equine Chondrocytes.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Oct 29;23(21).
- Zhang Z, Lin T, Zhong Y, Song W, Yang P, Wang D, Yang F, Zhang Q, Wei Q, He W. Effect of femoral head necrosis cystic area on femoral head collapse and stress distribution in femoral head: A clinical and finite element study.. Open Med (Wars) 2022;17(1):1282-1291.
- Murata D, Ishikawa S, Sunaga T, Saito Y, Sogawa T, Nakayama K, Hobo S, Hatazoe T. Osteochondral regeneration of the femoral medial condyle by using a scaffold-free 3D construct of synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells in horses.. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 22;18(1):53.
- Burnett WD, Kontulainen SA, McLennan CE, Hazel D, Talmo C, Wilson DR, Hunter DJ, Johnston JD. Knee osteoarthritis patients with more subchondral cysts have altered tibial subchondral bone mineral density.. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 Jan 5;20(1):14.
- Peter VG, O'Keeffe TA, Smith LCR, Schweizer-Gorgas D. Radiographic Identification of Osseous Cyst- Like Lesions in the Distal Phalanx in 22 Lame Thoroughbred Horses Managed Conservatively and Their Racing Performance.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:286.
- Wen L, Shin MH, Kang JH, Yim YR, Kim JE, Lee JW, Lee KE, Park DJ, Kim TJ, Kweon SS, Lee YH, Yun YW, Lee SS. Association between grip strength and hand and knee radiographic osteoarthritis in Korean adults: Data from the Dong-gu study.. PLoS One 2017;12(11):e0185343.
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