Post-Traumatic Arthritis of the Knee in an Animal Model Following ACL Reconstruction - Abstract
Injury to the ACL poses the risk of post-traumatic knee arthritis. Osteophytes have been observed after experimental cross-section of ACL by several researchers and have been attributed to joint instability. Same studies demonstrated that ACL reconstruction may be associated with a higher prevalence of knee post traumatic arthritis. The present paper investigates if the implication that surgical procedure itself is among the predisposing factors
for the initiation of OA of the knee in animal models. 11 studies in animal models selected at
random met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for the presence of post traumatic arthritis following ACL reconstruction or sham operation. The findings of the studied articles indicate that ACL sensory loss, blunt trauma to articular cartilage, immediate ACL reconstruction and/or bio-enhanced treatment may contribute to joint dysfunction and subsequent arthritic cartilage changes. The impact of surgical procedure for the development of post traumatic-like cartilage changes, has not yet effectively explored. Further investigation, especially designed, is needed for the detection of the implication of surgical procedure for post-traumatic arthritic changes.