The mechanical properties of equine third metacarpals as affected by age.
Abstract: Twenty-five pairs of equine third metacarpals (McIII) were collected from horses of varying breeds and ranging in age from 1 d to 27 yr. Standard three-point bending tests were performed on the McIII to obtain comparative data on breaking load (BL), breaking strength (BS), and elasticity (E). Broken bones were reassembled and 2-cm sections cut from the bone 1 cm below the nutrient foramen and at the site of the break. Bone mineral content (BMC) and geometrical properties of these sections were determined. Maximum BMC (17.3 g/2 cm) was reached at 6.0 +/- 1.8 yr of age. Horses in this study achieved 76% of maximum BMC by 1 yr of age. Maximum BL (1,888 kg) was reached at 4.6 +/- 1.8 yr of age. The coefficient of determination (r2) between BMC and BL was .92 (P < .001). Breaking strength peaked at 2,272 kg/cm2 at 6.3 +/- 1.2 yr of age. The correlation between BS and BMC was .84 (P < .0001). At 1 yr of age BS was 1,919 kg/cm2, or 85% of maximum BS. Elasticity increased linearly with log 10 age (r2 = .91). The r2 of BMC and E was .79 (P < .001). Area moment of inertia (I) of the cortex of the bone was best approximated by the area of an ellipse (r2 = .91; P < .01). Results suggest that bone strength in horses peaks after most race horses have completed their careers.
Publication Date: 1994-10-01 PubMed ID: 7883619DOI: 10.2527/1994.72102617xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research focuses on studying the mechanical properties – breaking load, breaking strength, and elasticity – of horse third metacarpals, in relation to age. It presented data on how the bone strength affected by age may influence performance, particularly in racing horses.
Study Design and Methodology
- In this study, twenty-five pairs of equine third metacarpals (McIII) were gathered from horses of different breeds and age. The age range spanned from 1 day to 27 years old.
- A standard three-point bending test was carried out on the McIII. This test is a method in engineering to determine the breaking load (BL), breaking strength (BS), and elasticity (E) of a material.
- The broken bones were subsequently reassembled and 2-cm sections were cut from specific parts of the bone. Then, the bone mineral content (BMC) and geometrical attributes of the sections were established.
Findings
- Maximum BMC was achieved at around 6 years of age and by 1 year of age; horses achieved approximately 76% of the maximum BMC.
- The maximum BL was achieved at approximately 4.6 years of age.
- There was a strong positive correlation between BMC and BL (0.92) and between breaking strength (BS) and BMC (0.84).
- Breaking strength peaked at approximately 6.3 years of age. By 1 year of age, the breaking strength was 85% of the maximum BS.
- Elasticity increased linearly with the log of the age, with a correlation coefficient of 0.91. The correlation between BMC and elasticity was 0.79.
- Area moment of inertia (I), a measurement that indicates the variation in bending and buckling strength, of the bone’s cortex was best estimated by the area of an ellipse.
- The results suggest horse bone strength usually peaks after most racehorses have ended their careers.
Conclusion
The study provides a detailed evaluation of the changing mechanical properties of equine McIII bones with age. The findings may present significant implications for the care and training of racehorses to mitigate injury risks, considering these horses often retire before their bone strength reaches its peak.
Cite This Article
APA
Lawrence LA, Ott EA, Miller GJ, Poulos PW, Piotrowski G, Asquith RL.
(1994).
The mechanical properties of equine third metacarpals as affected by age.
J Anim Sci, 72(10), 2617-2623.
https://doi.org/10.2527/1994.72102617x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone Density
- Carpus, Animal / physiology
- Elasticity
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Metacarpus / physiology
- Tensile Strength
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Kemper AM, Drnevich J, McCue ME, McCoy AM. Differential Gene Expression in Articular Cartilage and Subchondral Bone of Neonatal and Adult Horses. Genes (Basel) 2019 Sep 25;10(10).
- Dooley KA, McCormack J, Fyhrie DP, Morris MD. Stress mapping of undamaged, strained, and failed regions of bone using Raman spectroscopy. J Biomed Opt 2009 Jul-Aug;14(4):044018.
- Fürst A, Meier D, Michel S, Schmidlin A, Held L, Laib A. Effect of age on bone mineral density and micro architecture in the radius and tibia of horses: an Xtreme computed tomographic study. BMC Vet Res 2008 Jan 25;4:3.
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