A comparison of the effects of joint immobilisation, twice-daily passive motion, and voluntary motion on articular cartilage healing in sheep

W. J. Bruce; K. Frame; H. M. Burbidge; K. Thompson; E. C. Firth

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1632709

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15(01): 23-29
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632709

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

A comparison of the effects of joint immobilisation, twice-daily passive motion, and voluntary motion on articular cartilage healing in sheep

W. J. Bruce

¹Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

,

K. Frame

¹Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

,

H. M. Burbidge

¹Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

,

K. Thompson

¹Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

,

E. C. Firth

¹Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

In this study, articulated transarticular external skeletal fixators were used to examine the effects of joint immobilisation, twice-daily passive range-of-motion exercises, and voluntary motion on articular cartilage healing and other joint parameters. Abaxial articular cartilage lesions demonstrated superior cartilage healing to axial lesions. Twice-daily passive range of motion exercises failed to improve the quality of articular cartilage repair when compared with joint immobilisation. Voluntary motion resulted in superior articular cartilage repair tissue with maintenance of near normal cartilage architecture, proteoglycan staining, synovial fluid cell counts and specific gravity, and joint range-of-motion.

Keywords

Articular Cartilage Healing - Transarticular External Skeletal Fixation - Physical Therapy - Joint Motion

Full Text

References

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