Department of Morphological Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, Warsaw 02-776, Poland.
Acta Vet Scand. 2012 Jul 13;54(1):41. doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-41.
Proximal phalanges in horses are among bones that are most prone to injuries. So far, the detailed analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of both front legs proximal phalanges in horses has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the densitometric and geometric parameters between proximal phalanges in equine both front legs with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
The study material comprised isolated both front legs proximal phalanges derived from 22 horses. The structure analysis of the proximal phalanges was conducted with the pQCT. The following bone parameters were determined: bone mineral content, volumetric bone mineral density, total bone area, trabecular area, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal circumference, endocortical circumference, Strength Strain Index. Tomographic analysis of proximal phalanges was conducted at three levels: at 15%, 50% and 85% of the bone length.
The statistical analysis showed that both the densitometric and geometric parameters of the bone at 50% and 85% of its length, did not present any statistically significant differences for the left or right proximal phalanges of the forelimb. At the same time, all examined parameters measured at 15% of the bone length, in the vicinity of the proximal metaphysis revealed significant statistical differences between both front legs proximal phalanges.
The proximal phalanx parameters in the forelimbs are significantly different for the left and right proximal phalanx at 15% of the length and they indicate higher Strength Strain Index of the left bone in this location. The densitometric and geometric parameters of the bone at 50% and 85% of its length, did not present any statistically significant differences for the left or right proximal phalanges of the left and right forelimbs. The most serious changes caused by asymmetrical load of the thoracic limbs in horses occur near the proximal metaphysis, where the spongious substance is most abundant. This may happen because the metabolism of the spongious bone tissue is eight times faster compared to the compact bone tissue. Thus, any changes, including those caused by asymmetrical strain exerted on the right and left thoracic limbs, are the earliest to be observed.
马的近节指骨是最容易受伤的骨头之一。到目前为止，还没有对马的前肢近节指骨的骨密度和几何参数进行详细分析。本研究的目的是使用外周定量计算机断层扫描（pQCT）比较马的前肢近节指骨的骨密度和几何参数。
研究材料包括 22 匹马的前肢近节指骨。使用 pQCT 对近节指骨进行结构分析。确定了以下骨参数：骨矿物质含量、体积骨密度、总骨面积、骨小梁面积、皮质面积、皮质厚度、骨膜周长、内皮层周长、强度应变指数。对近节指骨进行断层分析，在骨长的 15%、50%和 85%处进行。
统计分析表明，左、右侧前肢近节指骨在骨长的 50%和 85%处的骨密度和几何参数均无统计学差异。同时，在骨长的 15%处测量的所有检查参数，在近节骨干附近，左右侧前肢近节指骨之间存在显著的统计学差异。
前肢近节指骨在骨长的 15%处左右侧近节指骨的参数存在显著差异，表明左侧近节指骨在该部位的强度应变指数较高。在骨长的 50%和 85%处，左右侧前肢近节指骨的骨密度和几何参数无统计学差异。马的胸肢不对称负荷引起的最严重变化发生在近骨干附近，那里的松质骨最丰富。这可能是因为松质骨组织的代谢速度比密质骨组织快八倍。因此，任何变化，包括由于左右胸肢施加的不对称应变引起的变化，都是最早观察到的。
