Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
J Orthop Res. 2021 Nov;39(11):2363-2375. doi: 10.1002/jor.24971. Epub 2021 Jan 23.
This study aimed to quantify the long-term progression of blunt and sharp cartilage defects and their effect on joint homeostasis and function of the equine carpus. In nine adult Shetland ponies, the cartilage in the radiocarpal and middle carpal joint of one front limb was grooved (blunt or sharp randomized). The ponies were subjected to an 8-week exercise protocol and euthanized at 39 weeks. Structural and compositional alterations in joint tissues were evaluated in vivo using serial radiographs, synovial biopsies, and synovial fluid samples. Joint function was monitored by quantitative gait analysis. Macroscopic, microscopic, and biomechanical evaluation of the cartilage and assessment of subchondral bone parameters were performed ex vivo. Grooved cartilage showed higher OARSI microscopy scores than the contra-lateral sham-operated controls (p < 0.0001). Blunt-grooved cartilage scored higher than sharp-grooved cartilage (p = 0.007) and fixed charge density around these grooves was lower (p = 0.006). Equilibrium and instantaneous moduli trended lower in grooved cartilage than their controls (significant for radiocarpal joints). Changes in other tissues included a threefold to sevenfold change in interleukin-6 expression in synovium from grooved joints at week 23 (p = 0.042) and an increased CPII/C2C ratio in synovial fluid extracted from blunt-grooved joints at week 35 (p = 0.010). Gait analysis outcome revealed mild, gradually increasing lameness. In conclusion, blunt and, to a lesser extent, sharp grooves in combination with a period of moderate exercise, lead to mild degeneration in equine carpal cartilage over a 9-month period, but the effect on overall joint health remains limited.
本研究旨在定量评估马腕关节钝性和锐性软骨损伤的长期进展及其对关节内稳态和功能的影响。在 9 匹成年设得兰矮种马中，一侧前肢的桡腕关节和腕中关节的软骨被开槽（钝或锐随机）。这些马接受了 8 周的运动方案，然后在 39 周时被安乐死。使用连续 X 光片、滑膜活检和滑液样本在体内评估关节组织的结构和组成变化。通过定量步态分析监测关节功能。对软骨进行宏观、微观和生物力学评估，并评估软骨下骨参数。开槽软骨的 OARSI 显微镜评分高于对侧假手术对照（p < 0.0001）。钝性开槽软骨的评分高于锐性开槽软骨（p = 0.007），并且这些槽周围的固定电荷密度较低（p = 0.006）。开槽软骨的平衡和瞬时模量低于其对照（桡腕关节有统计学意义）。其他组织的变化包括第 23 周时来自开槽关节的滑膜中白细胞介素 6 表达增加三倍至七倍（p = 0.042）和第 35 周时从钝性开槽关节提取的滑液中 CPII/C2C 比值增加（p = 0.010）。步态分析结果显示轻度、逐渐加重的跛行。总之，钝性和在一定程度上锐性的沟槽加上适度的运动期，导致马腕关节软骨在 9 个月内出现轻度退化，但对整体关节健康的影响仍然有限。
