Another diagnostic method recently introduced into the human clinical setting to assess bone quality and fracture risk is reference point indentation (RPI). This novel bone indentation technique has been employed in preliminary studies to assess bone tissue mechanical properties in people, and has been shown to correlate with traditional mechanical measures of bone toughness. Bone toughness measures using this method have been shown to correlate with whole bone fracture resistance, even at skeletal sites distant to the measurement site. An RPI instrument known as the Osteoprobe, has been developed to allow measurements to be performed directly through the skin in a conscious patient. We have performed preliminary testing using this instrument in standing horses, showing that this technology could be transferred into the equine clinical setting.
https://vet.purdue.edu/esmc/index.php
https://vet.purdue.edu/esmc/files/documents/2016EquineReportfinal.pdf
