Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy

Abstract Background Long-term cyclic tensile testing with equine palmar/plantar tendons have not yet been performed due to problems in fixing equine tendons securely and loading them cyclically. It is well established that the biomechanical response of tendons varies during cyclic loading over time....

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Main Authors: Franziska C. Wagner, Sven Reese, Kerstin Gerlach, Peter Böttcher, Christoph K. W. Mülling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-06-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02914-w
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author Franziska C. Wagner
Sven Reese
Kerstin Gerlach
Peter Böttcher
Christoph K. W. Mülling
author_facet Franziska C. Wagner
Sven Reese
Kerstin Gerlach
Peter Böttcher
Christoph K. W. Mülling
author_sort Franziska C. Wagner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Long-term cyclic tensile testing with equine palmar/plantar tendons have not yet been performed due to problems in fixing equine tendons securely and loading them cyclically. It is well established that the biomechanical response of tendons varies during cyclic loading over time. The aim of this study was to develop a clamping device that enables repetitive cyclic tensile testing of equine superficial digital flexor tendon for at least 60 loading cycles and for 5 min. Results A novel cryo-clamp was developed and built. Healthy and collagenase-treated pony SDFTs were mounted in the custom-made cryo-clamp for the proximal tendon end and a special clamping device for the short pastern bone (os coronale). Simultaneously with tensile testing, we used a biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy system (FluoKin) to track tendon movement. The FluoKin system was additionally validated in precision measurements. During the cyclic tensile tests of the SDFTs, the average maximal force measured was 325 N and 953 N for a length variation of 2 and 4 % respectively. The resulting stress averaged 16 MPa and 48 MPa respectively, while the modulus of elasticity was 828 MPa and 1212 MPa respectively. Length variation of the metacarpal region was, on average, 4.87 % higher after incubation with collagenase. The precision of the FluoKin tracking was 0.0377 mm, defined as the standard deviation of pairwise intermarker distances embedded in rigid bodies. The systems accuracy was 0.0287 mm, which is the difference between the machined and mean measured distance. Conclusion In this study, a good performing clamping technique for equine tendons under repetitive cyclic loading conditions is described. The presented cryo-clamps were tested up to 50 min duration and up to the machine maximal capacity of 10 kN. With the possibility of repetitive loading a stabilization of the time-force-curve and changes of hysteresis and creep became obvious after a dozen cycles, which underlines the necessity of repetitive cyclical testing. Furthermore, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy seems an appropriate and highly precise measurement tool for analysis of tendon behaviour under repetitive load in equine SDFTs.
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spelling doaj.art-86ce0a333813478a880c371552ce6cdb2022-12-21T20:47:30ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482021-06-0117111510.1186/s12917-021-02914-wCyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopyFranziska C. Wagner0Sven Reese1Kerstin Gerlach2Peter Böttcher3Christoph K. W. Mülling4Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig UniversityChair of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU MunichDepartment for Horses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig UniversitySmall Animal Clinic, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität BerlinInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig UniversityAbstract Background Long-term cyclic tensile testing with equine palmar/plantar tendons have not yet been performed due to problems in fixing equine tendons securely and loading them cyclically. It is well established that the biomechanical response of tendons varies during cyclic loading over time. The aim of this study was to develop a clamping device that enables repetitive cyclic tensile testing of equine superficial digital flexor tendon for at least 60 loading cycles and for 5 min. Results A novel cryo-clamp was developed and built. Healthy and collagenase-treated pony SDFTs were mounted in the custom-made cryo-clamp for the proximal tendon end and a special clamping device for the short pastern bone (os coronale). Simultaneously with tensile testing, we used a biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy system (FluoKin) to track tendon movement. The FluoKin system was additionally validated in precision measurements. During the cyclic tensile tests of the SDFTs, the average maximal force measured was 325 N and 953 N for a length variation of 2 and 4 % respectively. The resulting stress averaged 16 MPa and 48 MPa respectively, while the modulus of elasticity was 828 MPa and 1212 MPa respectively. Length variation of the metacarpal region was, on average, 4.87 % higher after incubation with collagenase. The precision of the FluoKin tracking was 0.0377 mm, defined as the standard deviation of pairwise intermarker distances embedded in rigid bodies. The systems accuracy was 0.0287 mm, which is the difference between the machined and mean measured distance. Conclusion In this study, a good performing clamping technique for equine tendons under repetitive cyclic loading conditions is described. The presented cryo-clamps were tested up to 50 min duration and up to the machine maximal capacity of 10 kN. With the possibility of repetitive loading a stabilization of the time-force-curve and changes of hysteresis and creep became obvious after a dozen cycles, which underlines the necessity of repetitive cyclical testing. Furthermore, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy seems an appropriate and highly precise measurement tool for analysis of tendon behaviour under repetitive load in equine SDFTs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02914-wEquineHorseSuperficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)Cryo-clampStrainXROMM
spellingShingle Franziska C. Wagner
Sven Reese
Kerstin Gerlach
Peter Böttcher
Christoph K. W. Mülling
Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
BMC Veterinary Research
Equine
Horse
Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
Cryo-clamp
Strain
XROMM
title Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
title_full Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
title_fullStr Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
title_short Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy
title_sort cyclic tensile tests of shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons sdfts with an optimized cryo clamp combined with biplanar high speed fluoroscopy
topic Equine
Horse
Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)
Cryo-clamp
Strain
XROMM
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02914-w
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