Articular cartilage degeneration following anterior cruciate ligament injury: a comparison of surgical transection and noninvasive rupture as preclinical models of post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2016

Publication Title

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

Abstract

© 2016 Objective Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is commonly studied using animal models. Surgical ACL transection is an established model, but noninvasive models may mimic human injury more closely. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare changes in 3D articular cartilage (AC) morphology following noninvasive ACL rupture and surgical ACL transection. Methods Thirty-six rats were randomized to uninjured control, noninvasive ACL rupture (Rupture), and surgical ACL transection (Transection), and 4 and 10 week time points (n = 6 per group). Contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CE-μCT) was employed for AC imaging. Femoral and tibial AC were segmented and converted into thickness maps. Compartmental and sub-compartmental AC thickness and surface roughness (Sa) were computed. OARSI histologic scoring was performed. Results In both injury groups, zones of adjacent thickening and thinning were evident on the medial femoral condyle, along with general thickening and roughening of femoral and tibial AC. The posterior tibia exhibited drastic thickening and surface degeneration, and this was worse in Transection. Both injury groups had increased AC thickness and Sa compared to Control at both time points, and Transection exhibited significantly higher Sa in every tibial compartment compared to Rupture. Histologic score was elevated in both groups, and the medial femur exhibited the most severe histologic degeneration. Conclusions This is the first 3D quantification of preclinical AC remodeling after ACL injury. Both injury models induced similar changes in AC morphology, but Transection exhibited higher tibial Sa and a greater degree of posterior tibial degeneration. We conclude that AC degeneration is a time-, compartment-, and injury-dependent cascade.

Volume

24

Issue

11

First Page

1918

Last Page

1927

DOI

10.1016/j.joca.2016.06.013

ISSN

10634584

PubMed ID

27349462

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