The relationship between in vivo limb and in vitro tendon mechanics after injury: a potential novel clinical tool for monitoring tendon repair.
Abstract: Highly prevalent superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury results in compromised tendon function through fibrosis and high frequency of re-injury due to altered biomechanical function. This study investigated the consequences of SDF tendinopathy on limb mechanics in relation to the mechanical properties of injured tendon. Objective: To develop and validate a noninvasive in vivo assessment of tendon mechanics to investigate the effect of recent SDFT injury on limb stiffness index, providing an objective method to assess quality of healing. Objective: Limb stiffness index would reduce as a consequence of SDFT injury and progressively increase during tendon healing and correlate with in vitro mechanical properties of the respective SDFTs. Methods: Kinematic analysis was performed at walk in 10 horses that had sustained career-ending SDFT injury. Stiffness index was derived from limb force recorded via a series of force plates and measurement of change in metacarpophalangeal joint angle using 3D motion analysis software. Horses were subjected to euthanasia 7 months after injury, the SDFTs removed and subjected to nondestructive in vitro mechanical testing. Results: Limb stiffness index was reduced following SDFT injury in comparison with the contralateral limb and increased during the convalescent period, approximating that of the contralateral limb by 7 months post injury. There was a significant positive correlation between in vivo limb stiffness index and in vitro SDFT stiffness. Conclusions: The ability to assess and monitor SDFT mechanical competence through limb stiffness measurement techniques in horses recovering from SDFT injury and the possibility of corroborating this with functional tendon healing may permit a more objective and accurate assessment of optimal tendon repair in the horse. This technique may be a useful method for assessing the efficacy of treatment regimens for tendinopathy and could be utilised to predict time to safe return to performance or re-injury.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2010-09-29 PubMed ID: 21496076DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00303.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article focuses on the exploration of how tendinopathy, focusing on Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT) injury in horses, impacts the mechanics of the affected limb. The researchers aim to develop an objective, non-invasive method of assessing tendon healing quality, simultaneous with the monitoring of limb stiffness index.
Objective
- The research set out to understand the effect of SDFT injury on limb mechanics, quantified through a variable known as the limb stiffness index. They hypothesized that limb stiffness index would decrease following an SDFT injury but would gradually increase during the phases of tendon healing. Furthermore, they expected that the in vitro mechanical properties of the injured tendon would correlate with the observed changes in limb stiffness. This investigation aims to develop a non-invasive, in vivo assessment of tendon recovery, aiding in an objective understanding of healing quality and progress.
Methods
- They conducted a kinematic analysis on ten horses that had experienced career-ending SDFT injuries. The limb stiffness index was determined from limb force recorded via force plates, along with a change in the metacarpophalangeal joint angle measured using 3D motion analysis software.
- After seven months, the horses were euthanized, their SDFTs were extracted and subjected to non-destructive, in vitro mechanical testing.
Results
- They found that the limb stiffness index decreased following an SDFT injury compared to the unaffected limb but increased during the recovery period, approaching the index value of the other limb seven months after the injury.
- The study also confirmed a substantial positive correlation between in vivo limb stiffness index and in vitro SDFT stiffness.
Conclusions
- This research is significant as it points towards a potential non-invasive clinical tool for monitoring tendon recovery in horses. By assessing the SDFT’s mechanical competence and limb stiffness, veterinarians may objectively evaluate the progress of tendon healing.
- This technique could also serve to examine the efficacy of different treatments for tendinopathy and potentially predict the safe time for an animal to return to performance or foretell the possibility of re-injury.
Cite This Article
APA
Dakin SG, Jespers K, Warner S, O'Hara LK, Dudhia J, Goodship AE, Wilson AM, Smith RK.
(2010).
The relationship between in vivo limb and in vitro tendon mechanics after injury: a potential novel clinical tool for monitoring tendon repair.
Equine Vet J, 43(4), 418-423.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00303.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK. sdakin@rvc.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
- Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
- Forelimb / injuries
- Forelimb / physiopathology
- Hindlimb / diagnostic imaging
- Hindlimb / injuries
- Hindlimb / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Male
- Tendon Injuries / diagnostic imaging
- Tendon Injuries / physiopathology
- Tendon Injuries / veterinary
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- El-Husseiny HM, Mady EA, Helal MAY, Tanaka R. The Pivotal Role of Stem Cells in Veterinary Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering. Vet Sci 2022 Nov 21;9(11).
- 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).
- Voga M, Adamic N, Vengust M, Majdic G. Stem Cells in Veterinary Medicine-Current State and Treatment Options. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:278.
- Spinella G, Britti D, Loprete G, Musella V, Romagnoli N, Vilar JM, Valentini S. Relative Echogenicity of Tendons and Ligaments of the Palmar Metacarpal Region in Foals from Birth to 4 Months of Age: A Longitudinal Study. PLoS One 2016;11(7):e0159953.
- Dakin SG, Dudhia J, Smith RK. Resolving an inflammatory concept: the importance of inflammation and resolution in tendinopathy. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2014 Apr 15;158(3-4):121-7.
- Dakin SG, Smith RK, Heinegård D, Önnerfjord P, Khabut A, Dudhia J. Proteomic analysis of tendon extracellular matrix reveals disease stage-specific fragmentation and differential cleavage of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein). J Biol Chem 2014 Feb 21;289(8):4919-27.
- Smith RK, Werling NJ, Dakin SG, Alam R, Goodship AE, Dudhia J. Beneficial effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in naturally occurring tendinopathy. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e75697.
- Ellison M, Kobayashi H, Delaney F, Danielson K, Vanderby R Jr, Muir P, Forrest LJ. Feasibility and repeatability for in vivo measurements of stiffness gradients in the canine gastrocnemius tendon using an acoustoelastic strain gauge. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2013 Sep-Oct;54(5):548-54.
- Hanousek K, Fiske-Jackson A, O'Leary L, Smith RKW. Injury to the palmar supporting structures of the fetlock alters limb stiffness and fetlock angle. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):636-644.
- Jacklin BD, Hanousek K, Gillespie S, Liedtke A, Tucker R, Fiske-Jackson A, Smith RK. Validation of a novel clinical tool for monitoring distal limb stiffness. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1271036.
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