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Rheological Study of Synovial Fluid Obtained from Dogs: Healthy, Pathological, and Post-Surgery, after Spontaneous Rupture of Cranial Cruciate Ligament

Annals of Biomedical Engineering volume 38, pages 57–65 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

In the present study synovial fluid (SF) obtained from the stifle joint of healthy adult dogs and of dogs after cranial cruciate ligament rupture was analyzed regarding its rheological characteristics according to the condition of the joint. The viscoelastic and shear flow properties were measured at 25 and 38 °C. The results showed that the healthy SF exhibits practically temperature independent viscosity curve and satisfactory viscoelastic characteristics, i.e. G′ > G′′, over frequencies of 0.05–5 Hz, and characteristic relaxation time λ of the order of magnitude of 100 s. Creep measurements demonstrate that the zero shear viscosity was in the range of 10–100 Pa s. In shear flow viscosity measurements, by increasing \( \dot{\gamma } \) from 10−4 s−1 up to 103 s−1, non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior was observed and the viscosity values were decreased from 103 to 0.1 Pa s. On the contrary, in pathological conditions of cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR), the measured viscosity was found drastically reduced, i.e. between 100 and 10 mPa s. The CCLR synovial fluid, similar to healthy SF, exhibits insignificant temperature dependence. The present study showed also that about one week after a surgery for CCLR repair the SF exhibits non-Newtonian behavior of dilute polymers. After two weeks from the operation, however, the rheological behavior converges to the one of healthy SF.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), Ministry of Development, Greece, in the framework of the Project: EPEAEK II—PYTHAGORAS II, Support of the Universities Research Teams.

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Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Univ. Box 453, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Thomas B. Goudoulas, Eleftherios G. Kastrinakis & Stavros G. Nychas

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 11 St. Voutyra Str., GR-54627, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Lysimachos G. Papazoglou, George M. Kazakos & Panagiotis V. Kosmas

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  1. Thomas B. Goudoulas
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  2. Eleftherios G. Kastrinakis
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Correspondence to Thomas B. Goudoulas.

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Goudoulas, T.B., Kastrinakis, E.G., Nychas, S.G. et al. Rheological Study of Synovial Fluid Obtained from Dogs: Healthy, Pathological, and Post-Surgery, after Spontaneous Rupture of Cranial Cruciate Ligament. Ann Biomed Eng 38, 57–65 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-009-9832-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-009-9832-9

Keywords

  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Shear thinning behavior
  • Relaxation time
  • Viscoelastic properties