Can Condylar Subchondral Bone Thickness Predict the Risk of Lateral Condylar Fracture in the Thoroughbred?
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Introduction
The current paper reports the findings of one aspect of an Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) funded study investigating geometric, structural and pathological features of the distal third metacarpus (McIII) that are be associated with lateral condylar fracture. Here we focus on the findings relating to structural changes that may increase the risk of lateral condylar fracture.
Condylar fractures of the third metacarpus/metatarsus (Mc/MtIII) are the most common reason for euthanasia on UK racecourses (Parkin et al. 2004). They are associated with 45% of all fatal distal limb fractures that occur during racing in the UK. In the USA, condylar fractures are the second most common site of catastrophic fracture (Johnson et al. 1994). A reduction in the likelihood of this specific type of fracture would therefore have a significant global impact on the number of Thoroughbred racehorses subject to euthanasia as a result of injury incurred during racing.
Subchondral bone (SCB) has been shown to respond to exercise, through site-specific alterations in osteochondral structure in a number of species (Radin et al. 1982; Kiviranta et al. 1992; Firthet al. 1999; Murray et al. 2001). The aim of this part of the wider study was to identify differences in SCB and cartilage thickness that may be associated with lateral condylar fracture and to investigate if these differences could be used to predict fracture risk. [...]
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