Sternal bone biopsy in standing horses.
Authors: Désévaux C, Laverty S, Doizé B
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Sternal Bone Biopsy in Standing Horses: A Practical Diagnostic Technique Obtaining bone biopsy specimens in standing horses has historically been challenging, yet cancellous bone samples are valuable for investigating metabolic bone disease, nutritional deficiencies, and systemic conditions affecting bone quality—making a reliable, minimally invasive technique clinically important. Désévaux and colleagues developed a straightforward sternal biopsy protocol using an electric bone drill (Osteocore) in five sedated, standing horses, identifying the 4th or 5th sternebra as the optimal sampling site via ultrasonic guidance; tissue sections were subsequently evaluated for histological and histomorphometric analysis. The procedure proved remarkably successful: all horses yielded adequate, architecturally intact bone specimens on the first attempt with minimal morbidity—only incisional oedema occurred universally, with wound drainage in a single case. For equine practitioners seeking to investigate systemic or localised bone pathology without general anaesthesia, this technique offers a viable diagnostic option that combines safety with reliable sample quality. The accessibility and reproducibility of sternal biopsy may prove particularly valuable for nutritionists and veterinarians evaluating developmental orthopaedic disease, mineral imbalances, or metabolic conditions in performance and growing horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Sternal bone biopsy is a viable diagnostic tool in standing horses without general anesthesia, useful for investigating bone quality and pathology
- •Target the 4th or 5th sternebra for optimal sample quality; the procedure is straightforward and well-tolerated by horses
- •Expect minor incisional swelling post-procedure, but significant complications are rare with this technique
Key Findings
- •Sternal bone biopsy can be successfully performed in standing horses using an electric drill technique with minimal sedation
- •The 4th or 5th sternebra is the optimal biopsy site, yielding architecturally intact cancellous bone specimens
- •All horses tolerated the procedure well with only minor complications (incisional edema in all horses, wound drainage in one)
- •Adequate bone samples suitable for histological and histomorphometric analysis were obtained on the first attempt in all cases