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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
1   Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
,
K. Frame
1   Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
,
H. M. Burbidge
1   Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
,
K. Thompson
1   Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
,
E. C. Firth
1   Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
› Author AffiliationsThe authors wish to thank Duncan Hedderley for his statistical analysis of the data and Dorette and Steven Goldie for their invaluable assistance in the physical therapy and care of the sheep.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 09 January 2001

Accepted 13 February 2001

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

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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

This research was supported by grants from the Lewis Fitch Veterinary Research Fund and the Massey University Research Fund.


 

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