Osteoporotic equine bone modeling: 3-point bending of deer metacarpal bone

Current lack of data for equine metacarpal bone mechanical properties hinders the design of plating systems for horses. Due to the difficulties of obtaining equine bones, as well as physical similarities found in deer bones, the goals of this study are to determine if deer (Odocoileus virginianus borealis) metacarpal bones are comparable to equine (Equus ferus caballus) third metacarpal bones and to develop a model to best represent osteoporotic degeneration in these bones. The mechanical properties of deer metacarpal bones were measured using a custom, three-point bending mechanism following a 0 to 4 hour decalcification treatment. Deer metacarpal bone ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was found to be within 18% of the value reported for equine third metacarpal bone. Additionally, a relationship between acid treatment time and decrease of UTS due to decalcification was established.