Author:
Gan Donghao,Jin Xiaowan,Wang Xiangpeng,Tao Chu,Yan Qinnan,Jia Qingyun,Huo Shaochuan,Chen Di,Yao Qing,Xiao Guozhi
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
While joint immobilization is a useful repair method for intra-articular ligament injury and periarticular fracture, prolonged joint immobilization can cause multiple complications. A better understanding how joint immobilization and remobilization impact joint function and homeostasis will help clinicians develop novel strategies to reduce complications.
Design
We first determined the effects of long-term immobilization on joint pain and osteophyte formation in patients after an extraarticular fracture or ligament injury. We then developed a mouse model of joint immobilization and harvested the knee joint samples at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. We further determined the effects of remobilization on recovery of the osteoarthritis (OA) lesions induced by immobilization in mice.
Results
We found that the long-term (6 weeks) joint immobilization caused significant joint pain and osteophytes in patients. In mice, 2-week immobilization already induced moderate sensory innervation and increased pain sensitivity and infiltration in synovium without inducing marked osteophyte formation and cartilage loss. Long-term immobilization (4 and 8 weeks) induced more severe sensory innervation and inflammatory infiltration in synovium, massive osteophyte formation on both sides of the femoral condyle, and the edge of the tibial plateau and significant loss of the articular cartilage in mice. Remobilization, which ameliorates normal joint load and activity, restored to certain extent some of the OA lesions and joint function in mice.
Conclusions
Joint immobilization caused multiple OA-like lesions in both mice and humans. Joint immobilization induced progressive sensory innervation, synovitis, osteophyte formation, and cartilage loss in mice, which can be partially ameliorated by remobilization.
Funder
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Youth Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province
Joint Foundation Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants
Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program
Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Council Grant
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment Grant
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC