Cartilage

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of microscopic subchondral bone injury in the distal metacarpi/tarsi of Thoroughbred racehorses and associations with recent and cumulative training history.

Bone is repaired by remodelling, a process influenced by its loading environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a change in loading environment on bone remodelling by quantifying bone resorption and formation activity in the metacarpal subchondral bone in Thoroughbred racehorses. Sections of the palmar metacarpal condyles of horses in race training (n = 24) or resting from training (n = 24) were examined with light microscopy and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSEM).

Category: Bone - Cartilage - Equine
Authors: Nao Tsuzuki, Noe Oshita, Jong-pil Seo, Kazutaka Yamada, Shingo Haneda, Hidefumi Furuoka, Yasuhiko Tabata, Naoki Sasaki
Journal: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

We evaluated the effect of platelet-rich plasma-incorporated gelatin hydrogel microsphere (PRP/GM) together with subchondral drilling for cartilage regeneration in horses. Cartilage defects (diameter, 4.5 mm; depth, 3.0 mm) were created in both third carpal bones of six Thoroughbred horses. A subchondral hole was drilled at the center of this cartilage defect (diameter, 2.0 mm; depth, 35 mm) in one randomly selected carpal joint (test joint), whereas no subchondral hole was made in the contralateral joint (control joint).

Category: Cartilage - Equine
Authors: J.C. de Grauw, J.P.A.M. van Loon, C.H.A. van de Lest, A. Brunott, P.R. van Weeren
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Although phenylbutazone (PBZ) is commonly used in equine orthopaedic practice, little is known about its in vivo effects on joint inflammation and cartilage turnover. This study investigates the effects of PBZ on inflammatory parameters, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and cartilage biomarkers in equine joints with acute synovitis. In a two-period cross-over study, transient synovitis was induced at T = 0 h in the middle carpal joint of seven ponies by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection.

Category: Cartilage - Equine
Authors: Fanny Hontoir, Jean-François Nisolle, Hubert Meurisse, Vincent Simon, Max Tallier, Renaud Vanderstricht, Nadine Antoine, Joëlle Piret, Peter Clegg, Jean-Michel Vandeweerd
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Articular cartilage defects are prevalent in metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joints of horses. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3-T MRI) and computed tomography arthrography (CTA) to identify structural cartilage defects in the equine MCP/MTP joint.

Authors: J. M. Kuemmerle, S. Berchtold
Journal: Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology

This study compared the areas of cartilage accessible for curettage in arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal joint using the conventional and collateral ligament sparing approaches. For this purpose, forelimbs and hindlimbs of six equine cadavers without radiographic evidence of proximal interphalangeal joint disease were used.

Category: Bone - Cartilage - Equine
Authors: G. L. Pinchbeck, P. D. Clegg, A. Boyde and C. M. Riggs
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal

Reasons for performing study

Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (Mc/MtPh) joints is common in Thoroughbred racehorses, but there is little information on predilection sites, associated pathologies and clinical signs.
Objectives

To describe the distribution of POD at post mortem examination and to examine the association of POD with other pathologies and clinical histories.
Methods

Category: Bone - Cartilage - Equine
Authors: G. L. Pinchbeck, P. D. Clegg, A. Boyde, E. D. Barr and C. M. Riggs
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal

Reasons for performing study

Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) is a common, debilitating condition in Thoroughbred racehorses; however, training- and racing-related factors associated with this disease are unknown.
Objectives

To determine horse-, racing- and training-related risk factors for POD. The general hypotheses were that early training and racing, and increased intensity of racing and training, lead to increased severity of POD.
Methods

Authors: Ann Carstens, Robert M. Kirberger, Mark Velleman, Leif E. Dahlberg, Lizelle Fletcher and Eveliina Lammentausta
Journal: Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound

Osteoarthritis of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints is one of the major causes of poor performance in horses. Delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) may be a useful technique for noninvasively quantifying articular cartilage damage in horses. The purpose of this study was to describe dGEMRIC characteristics of the distal metacarpus3/metatarsus3 (Mc3/Mt3) articular cartilage in 20 cadaver specimens collected from normal Thoroughbred horses.

Category: Cartilage - Equine - MRI
Authors: Eric R. Carlson, DVM; Allison A. Stewart, DVM, MS; Kelly L. Carlson, DVM; Sushmitha S. Durgam, DVM, MS; Holly C. Pondenis, BS
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research

Objective—To compare the effects of autologous equine serum (AES) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on equine articular chondrocyte metabolism when stimulated with recombinant human (rh) interleukin (IL)-1β.

Sample—Articular cartilage and nonconditioned and conditioned serum from 6 young adult horses.

Category: Cartilage - Equine