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

Abstract

SummaryIn 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.