Assessment of tuber coxae bone biopsy in the standing horse.

Objective: To describe a biopsy technique in standing horses with minimal morbidity that consistently provides a substantial bone biopsy with intact, undamaged architecture.

Study Design: Experimental, prospective study.

Animals: Ten Thoroughbred horses.

Methods: Biopsies were obtained from the tuber coxae of 10 sedated, standing horses using an oscillating saw. Bilateral biopsies, separated by 60 days, were evaluated with micro-computed tomography (microCT). The first biopsy was prepared for decalcified histology; the second for undecalcified histology. Both biopsies were evaluated qualitatively for histologic quality.

Results: The biopsy technique did not result in any significant complications, was well tolerated and all biopsies were of good histologic quality.

Conclusion: Cortical and trabecular bone biopsies can be successfully collected from the tuber coxa using a simple technique that creates minimal morbidity and allows sequential samples to be collected. The biopsies were larger than those described previously, provided adequate bone for multiple histologic sections, and had intact, undamaged architecture on examination with microCT and light microscopy.