Training drives turnover rates in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones.
Abstract: Focal bone lesions are often found prior to clinically relevant stress-fractures. Lesions are characterized by low bone volume fraction, low mineral density, and high levels of microdamage and are hypothesized to develop when bone tissue cannot sufficiently respond to damaging loading. It is difficult to determine how exercise drives the formation of these lesions because bone responds to mechanical loading and repairs damage. In this study, we derive steady-state rate constants for a compartment model of bone turnover using morphometric data from fractured and non-fractured racehorse proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) and relate rate constants to racing-speed exercise data. Fractured PSBs had a subchondral focus of bone turnover and microdamage typical of lesions that develop prior to fracture. We determined steady-state model rate constants at the lesion site and an internal region without microdamage using bone volume fraction, tissue mineral density, and microdamage area fraction measurements. The derived undamaged bone resorption rate, damage formation rate, and osteoid formation rate had significant robust regression relationships to exercise intensity (rate) variables, layup (time out of exercise), and exercise 2-10 months before death. However, the direction of these relationships varied between the damaged (lesion) and non-damaged regions, reflecting that the biological response to damaging-loading differs from the response to non-damaging loading.
© 2023. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2023-01-27 PubMed ID: 36707527PubMed Central: PMC9883508DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26027-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates how training intensity influences the development of bone lesions in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs), which are often precursors to stress fractures. The researchers utilized morphometric data from both fractured and non-fractured PSBs, and linked these findings to racing speed and exercise data.
Understanding Bone Turnover in Racehorse Proximal Sesamoid Bones
- The research revolves around bone lesions – structural impairments often present before clinically relevant stress fractures. These lesions are defined by low bone volume fraction, low mineral density, and high microdamage levels.
- The hypothesis is that such lesions arise when the bone tissue can’t adequately respond to damaging loading – the physical stresses exerted on the bone during intense exercise and racing.
- The study’s challenge stems from the complicated balance in bone tissue: it reacts to mechanical loading by undergoing damage but then counteracts this by fixing the damage.
Research Methodology
- Data was collected from fractured and non-fractured racehorse proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs), a common site of stress fractures. This data included measures of bone volume, tissue mineral density, and area fraction of microdamage.
- The researchers then mapped this data onto racing-speed and exercise data, deriving steady-state rate constants for a model of bone turnover.
Results and Findings
- The study uncovered that more damaged PSBs exhibited focal bone turnover in an area under the cartilage, a pattern usual in lesions that grow before fracture occurrence.
- Steady-state model rate constants were quantified both at lesion sites and non-damage containing regions, offering insight into the state of the bone at different stages of damage.
- The research found significant regression relationships between the rates of undamaged bone resorption (breakdown), damage formation and new bone tissue (osteoid) formation and key exercise factors. These factors included exercise intensity, periods of rest (layup), and exercise 2-10 months prior to death.
- However, the direction of these relationships differed between the damaged and non-damaged regions, indicating that the bone tissue’s response to damaging and non-damaging loads is not uniform.
Cite This Article
APA
Shaffer SK, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP.
(2023).
Training drives turnover rates in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones.
Sci Rep, 13(1), 205.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26027-y Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA. skshaffer@ucdavis.edu.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Horses
- Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Bone and Bones
- Fractures, Stress
- Bone Remodeling
- Bone Resorption
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no competing interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Pan M, Malekipour F, Pivonka P, Morrice-West AV, Flegg JA, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. A mathematical model of metacarpal subchondral bone adaptation, microdamage and repair in racehorses. J R Soc Interface 2025 Oct;22(231):20250297.
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