Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints

Abstract Background Cartilage is a mechanically highly stressed tissue in the human body and an important part of synovial joints. The joint cartilage is lubricated by synovial fluid with hyaluronic acid (HA) as main component. However, in joints with osteoarthritis HA has a lower concentration and...

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Main Authors: Moritz Mederake, Dominik Trappe, Christopher Jacob, Ulf Krister Hofmann, Daniel Schüll, Philipp Dalheimer, Lisanne Exner, Christian Walter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-10-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05867-9
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author Moritz Mederake
Dominik Trappe
Christopher Jacob
Ulf Krister Hofmann
Daniel Schüll
Philipp Dalheimer
Lisanne Exner
Christian Walter
author_facet Moritz Mederake
Dominik Trappe
Christopher Jacob
Ulf Krister Hofmann
Daniel Schüll
Philipp Dalheimer
Lisanne Exner
Christian Walter
author_sort Moritz Mederake
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cartilage is a mechanically highly stressed tissue in the human body and an important part of synovial joints. The joint cartilage is lubricated by synovial fluid with hyaluronic acid (HA) as main component. However, in joints with osteoarthritis HA has a lower concentration and molecular weight compared to healthy joints. In recent years, the intra-articular injection of therapeutic HA lubricant, has become a popular therapy. The effect of HA application on the friction of a complete joint with physiological movement needs to be further determined. Methods The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lubrication effect of the joint by three lubricants (NaCl, fetal calf serum (FCS) and HA) and their effect on the friction in nine complete ovine carpo-metacarpal joints. The joints were mounted on a material testing machine and a physiological movement with 10° rotation was simulated with ascending axial load (100 – 400 N). Specimens were tested native, with cartilage damage caused by drying out and relubricated. Dissipated energy (DE) as a measure of friction was recorded and compared. Results Investigating the effect of axial load, we found significant differences in DE between all axial load steps (p < .001), however, only for the defect cartilage. Furthermore, we could document an increase in DE from native (Mean: 15.0 mJ/cycle, SD: 8.98) to cartilage damage (M: 74.4 mJ/cycle, SD: 79.02) and a decrease after relubrication to 23.6 mJ/cycle (SD: 18.47). Finally, we compared the DE values for NaCl, FCS and HA. The highest values were detected for NaCl (MNorm = 16.4 mJ/cycle, SD: 19.14). HA achieved the lowest value (MNorm = 4.3 mJ/cycle, SD: 4.31), although the gap to FCS (MNorm = 5.1 mJ/cycle, SD: 7.07) was small. Conclusions We were able to elucidate three effects in joints with cartilage damage. First, the friction in damaged joints increases significantly compared to native joints. Second, especially in damaged joints, the friction increases significantly more with increased axial load compared to native or relubricated joints. Third, lubricants can achieve an enormous decrease in friction. Comparing different lubricants, our results indicate the highest decrease in friction for HA.
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spelling doaj.art-a67acd5a21304f3abb4334da6b2fe7c92022-12-22T02:37:17ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742022-10-012311910.1186/s12891-022-05867-9Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal jointsMoritz Mederake0Dominik Trappe1Christopher Jacob2Ulf Krister Hofmann3Daniel Schüll4Philipp Dalheimer5Lisanne Exner6Christian Walter7Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, BG Klinik, University of TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenUniversity Hospital TübingenAbstract Background Cartilage is a mechanically highly stressed tissue in the human body and an important part of synovial joints. The joint cartilage is lubricated by synovial fluid with hyaluronic acid (HA) as main component. However, in joints with osteoarthritis HA has a lower concentration and molecular weight compared to healthy joints. In recent years, the intra-articular injection of therapeutic HA lubricant, has become a popular therapy. The effect of HA application on the friction of a complete joint with physiological movement needs to be further determined. Methods The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lubrication effect of the joint by three lubricants (NaCl, fetal calf serum (FCS) and HA) and their effect on the friction in nine complete ovine carpo-metacarpal joints. The joints were mounted on a material testing machine and a physiological movement with 10° rotation was simulated with ascending axial load (100 – 400 N). Specimens were tested native, with cartilage damage caused by drying out and relubricated. Dissipated energy (DE) as a measure of friction was recorded and compared. Results Investigating the effect of axial load, we found significant differences in DE between all axial load steps (p < .001), however, only for the defect cartilage. Furthermore, we could document an increase in DE from native (Mean: 15.0 mJ/cycle, SD: 8.98) to cartilage damage (M: 74.4 mJ/cycle, SD: 79.02) and a decrease after relubrication to 23.6 mJ/cycle (SD: 18.47). Finally, we compared the DE values for NaCl, FCS and HA. The highest values were detected for NaCl (MNorm = 16.4 mJ/cycle, SD: 19.14). HA achieved the lowest value (MNorm = 4.3 mJ/cycle, SD: 4.31), although the gap to FCS (MNorm = 5.1 mJ/cycle, SD: 7.07) was small. Conclusions We were able to elucidate three effects in joints with cartilage damage. First, the friction in damaged joints increases significantly compared to native joints. Second, especially in damaged joints, the friction increases significantly more with increased axial load compared to native or relubricated joints. Third, lubricants can achieve an enormous decrease in friction. Comparing different lubricants, our results indicate the highest decrease in friction for HA.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05867-9Hyaluronic acidFrictionBiomechanicsOsteoarthritisDissipated energyBiotribology
spellingShingle Moritz Mederake
Dominik Trappe
Christopher Jacob
Ulf Krister Hofmann
Daniel Schüll
Philipp Dalheimer
Lisanne Exner
Christian Walter
Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Hyaluronic acid
Friction
Biomechanics
Osteoarthritis
Dissipated energy
Biotribology
title Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
title_full Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
title_fullStr Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
title_full_unstemmed Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
title_short Influence of hyaluronic acid on intra-articular friction – a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
title_sort influence of hyaluronic acid on intra articular friction a biomechanical study in whole animal joints
topic Hyaluronic acid
Friction
Biomechanics
Osteoarthritis
Dissipated energy
Biotribology
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05867-9
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