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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| _version_ | 1811336343380295680 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:38:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a67acd5a21304f3abb4334da6b2fe7c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2474 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:38:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| 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 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moritzmederake influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT dominiktrappe influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT christopherjacob influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT ulfkristerhofmann influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT danielschull influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT philippdalheimer influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT lisanneexner influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints AT christianwalter influenceofhyaluronicacidonintraarticularfrictionabiomechanicalstudyinwholeanimaljoints |