Electroarthrography: Non-invasive evaluation of cartilage health in equine articular joints

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In the equine industry, lameness resulting from arthritis is a major cause of lost performance. Arthritis is characterized by a progressive degeneration of cartilage; the thin tissue lining the ends of bones that allows normal joints to move painlessly. Arthritic cartilage may, for example, exhibit a roughened surface or thickness changes early in the disease process, which eventually progresses to deeper cartilage lesions and may involve other tissues. Later stages of arthritis cause pain and debilitation, and treatment is limited to symptom relief. Early arthritis may not produce symptoms, yet this is precisely when treatment aimed at slowing disease progression could be effective. Unfortunately, equine veterinarians do not have an objective method for evaluating joint health readily available. They often determine treatment plans after a physical exam that may or may not be combined with X-ray or ultrasound to explore non-cartilage joint structures. An accessible method for identifying early cartilage degeneration in horses is needed to transform the way in which veterinarians monitor equine joint health. Electroarthrography (EAG) is a method by which electrical signals produced by cartilage are measured non-invasively through electrodes placed on skin surrounding an articular joint, analogous to the collection of other bio-potentials such as electrocardiography. The electrical signals produced by cartilage result from the way this highly specialized tissue responds to weight bearing and are directly linked to cartilage quality. EAG can detect subtle cartilage changes associated with early arthritis and this approach was well-tolerated in a small feasibility study in live horses. The overall goal of this research program is to create a diagnostic EAG method that can be used by equine veterinarians to routinely evaluate cartilage quality in order to identify opportunities for early intervention aimed at limiting arthritis progression. To achieve this goal, specific short term objectives are to 1) investigate the influence of non-cartilage variables in addition to intrinsic cartilage properties that contribute to EAG, 2) develop a predictive model to interpret EAG signals and extract information about intrinsic cartilage quality, and 3) develop a portable system for collecting EAG outside of the laboratory. Laboratory tests using cadaveric equine joints will be conducted to relate EAG to variables like joint angle and cartilage contact area, as well as to cartilage stiffness, composition and structure. Modelling approaches will then be applied to this complex data set to pinpoint relationships between EAG and cartilage quality. Technological challenges will be overcome through simplifying electrode application and creating a user-friendly interface to successfully translate EAG into a practical method for veterinarians. This proposal describes an exciting area of research that is not currently being pursued by any other group in the world.