Identification of Cartilage Wear Fragments in Synovial Fluid from Equine Joints

Abstract

Synovial fluids from 72 equine joints were examined for the presence of cartilage debris, and these findings were compared to findings from visual inspection of the articular cartilage surfaces at necropsy. Synovial fluids from 25 joints with visual cartilage damage contained one or more large particles of articular cartilage. Cartilage fragments were not found in synovial fluids from 42 of the 47 apparently normal joints; thus, a correlation may exist between cartilage debris in the synovial fluid and lesions of the articular surfaces.Acute and chronic joint diseases present some of the more difficult diagnostic problems in both human and veterinary medicine. In particular, those pathologic conditions that involve erosion of the cartilage surface of articulating joints are especially difficult to evaluate without surgical intervention.Recently. several investigators ( I ,2) have suggested that the principles of wear particle analysis can be applied to articulate joints and may provide a means of assessing the functional integrity of articular surfaces. as well as identifying lesions or deterioration of the articular cartilage. The pathologic changes associated with many arthroses and the accompanying mechanical destruction of the articular surfaces have 1981.Arthritis and Rheumatism, Vnl. 24, So. 11 (November 1981) been shown to produce significant debris within the joint capsule. Cartilage fragments have been observed free in synovial fluid or imbedded in the synovial membrane in a number of diverse joint diseases of both humans and animals (2-4), and the presence and morphology of such fragments has been suggested as a possible indicator of the extent of articular damage (5,6).Researchers ( 1,2,6,7) have demonstrated the feasibility of recovering and identifying cartilage fragments in synovial fluid from diseased joints and have pointed out a potential diagnostic use of such analyses. In one study (6) of several hundred race horses, a positive correlation between cartilage fragments suspended in the synovial fluid and chronic joint problems was shown. The amount of cartilage debris recovered from the synovial fluids of these horses was qualitatively related to the degree of functional impairment. In another study of arthrograms of human patients (7), a similar correlation between cartilage fragments in the synovial fluid and articular lesions has been demonstrated. In principle, the presence of cartilage fragments in the synovial fluid could provide an indication of biomechanically deficient articular surfaces, and sequential evaluations over a period of time may provide an efficient way to monitor the rate and extent of progressive articular degeneration.In order to further document the relationship between lesions of the articular surfaces and wear fragments of cartilage, we examined synovial fluid samples from 72 equine joints for the presence of cartilage particles. and these findings were compared to the findings from visual examination of the articular surfaces at necropsy. These data show an excell...

The involvement of subchondral mineralized tissues in osteoarthrosis: Quantitative microscopic evidence

“…of Calcified Cartilage in OA Acceleration of remodeling in the calcified bed is widely reported in association with OA in both clinical and experimental studies (Badalamente and Cherney, 1988;Bullough, 1981;Bullough and Jagannath, 1983;Burr and Radin, 1990;Dmitrovsky et al, 1978;Farkas et al, 1987;Floman et al, 1980;Harrison et al, 1953;Johnson, 1958;Lane and Bullough, 1980;Lane et al, 1977;Lemperg, 1971a,b;Mankin, 1974;Nichols and Richardson, 1909;Oegema and Thompson, 1990;Ogston, 1875Ogston, , 1878Radin and Rose, 1986;Radin et al, 1973Radin et al, , 1976Radin et al, , 1978Radin et al, , 1984Roberts et al, 1984;Sokoloff, 1974;Stevens, 1970;Tew and Hackett, 1981;Yang et al, 1989). Although this remodeling may perform a service in allowing the joint to adapt its geometry to reduce cartilage stresses (Bullough et al, 1973;Lane et al, 1977), it is widely speculated that vascular invasion of calcified cartilage is the critical component of the remodeling response that plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of OA (Bullough, 1981;Bullough and Jagannath, 1983;Dmitrovsky et al, 1978;Lane and Bullough, 1980;Lane et al, 1977;Sokoloff, 1969Sokoloff, , 1982.…”

Artificial cartilage bio-matrix formed of hyaluronic acid and Mg2+-polyphosphate

“…For the polyP paste formation, we used Mg 2+ instead of Ca 2+ in order to cause a less strong ionic bonding between the two polyanions HA and polyP. This approach also might allow the dissolution of the bone splinters that are found in the synovial fluid around damaged articular cartilage (Tew and Hackett 1981). As a consequence of the exchange of Ca 2+ with Mg…”

Repair and Function of Synovium After Arthroscopic Synovectomy of the Dorsal Compartment of the Equine Antebrachiocarpal Joint

“…The presence or absence of flocculent material and chondrocytes or chondroblasts was recorded. 22 The other sample was divided into microaliquots and stored at -70°C until the end of the experiment. One microaliquot of each sample was analyzed in duplicate for hyaluronan concentration, using a specific radiometric assay based on a radioactive '251-…”