The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: Despite the high incidence of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury in racehorses, the pathobiology of the condition is not clearly defined. The SDFT improves locomotor efficiency by storing elastic energy, but as a result it has low mechanical safety margins. As with the Achilles tendon in humans, rupture during athletic activity often follows accumulation of exercise and age-induced degenerative change that is not repaired by tenocytes. There is limited understanding of tenocyte biology and pathology, including responses to high mechanical strains and core temperatures during exercise. Unfortunately, much of the current information on SDFT pathology is derived from studies of collagenase-induced injury, which is a controversial model. Following rupture the overlapping phases of reactive inflammation, proliferation, remodelling and maturation do not necessarily reconstitute normal structure and function, resulting in long-term persistence of scar tissue and high re-injury rates. Tissue engineering approaches are likely to be applicable to SDFT lesions, but will require significant advances in cell biology research.
Publication Date: 2008-04-10 PubMed ID: 18406184DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study explores the pathology behind exercise-induced damage to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in racehorses. It highlights the lack of clear understanding about the biology of tenocytes, and cell responses to high mechanical strains and core temperatures during exercise, while pointing towards future tissue engineering approaches for improvements.
Understanding Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Injury
- The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in racehorses, similar to the Achilles tendon in humans, faces a high risk of damage during athletic activity. This is primarily due to its role in improving locomotor efficiency by storing elastic energy, which also means it has low mechanical safety margins.
- Untreated cumulative degenerative changes resulting from strenuous exercise and age can lead to tendon rupture.
Gaps in Current Understanding and Research
- Despite the high occurrence of SDFT injury, there seems to be limited research providing clarity on the pathobiology of this condition.
- Present understanding of tenocyte biology and pathology is insufficient. Tenocytes are the cells that repair tendons, and their responses to high mechanical strains and core temperatures during exercise are not totally understood.
- Existing information is largely sourced from studies of collagenase-induced injury, which is considered a contentious model.
Recovery and Scar Tissue
- Post-rupture, there are measures known to treat the injury. These include the overlapping phases of reactive inflammation, proliferation, remodeling and maturation.
- However, these processes often fail to restore the normal structure and function of the tendon completely. This leads to long-term persistence of scar tissue and the risk of re-injury remains high.
Future Perspectives
- The study concludes by suggesting that tissue engineering could offer potential solutions to SDFT lesions.
- However, these approaches depend on substantial advancements in cell biology research and are therefore not an immediate solution.
Cite This Article
APA
Patterson-Kane JC, Firth EC.
(2008).
The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Vet J, 181(2), 79-89.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. j.pattersonkane@uq.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Division
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
- Rupture / pathology
- Rupture / veterinary
- Tendon Injuries / epidemiology
- Tendon Injuries / pathology
- Tendon Injuries / veterinary
- Wound Healing
Citations
This article has been cited 18 times.- Koch DW, Berglund AK, Messenger KM, Gilbertie JM, Ellis IM, Schnabel LV. Interleukin-1β in tendon injury enhances reparative gene and protein expression in mesenchymal stem cells.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:963759.
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- Iimori M, Tamura N, Seki K, Kasashima Y. Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study.. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Feb 23;84(2):261-265.
- Wagner FC, Reese S, Gerlach K, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW. Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jun 25;17(1):223.
- Wagner FC, Gerlach K, Geiger SM, Gittel C, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW. Biplanar High-Speed Fluoroscopy of Pony Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT)-An In Vivo Pilot Study.. Vet Sci 2021 May 27;8(6).
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- Secchi V, Masala G, Corda A, Corda F, Potop E, Barbero Fernandez A, Pinna Parpaglia ML, Sanna Passino E. Strain Elastography of Injured Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendons: A Reliability Study of Manual Measurements.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 12;11(3).
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