This study deals with the viscoelastic evaluation of the efficacy of two ordinary knee osteoarthritis therapies: injections of exogenous high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and arthrocentesis. The results were also compared with “placebo” treatment. Synovial fluids were extracted from osteoarthritic knee joints of 60 patients before and after the different treatments and were analysed in a rheometer with coaxial cylinders arrangement at 37°C. Frequency sweep experiments provided the values of shear storage modulus G′ and shear loss modulus G″ as function of oscillation frequency. The quantified viscoelasticity gave information about the mechanical performance of synovial fluids and hence the long-term efficacy of osteoarthritis therapies. Moreover, the results were interpreted in terms of macromolecular structure and hyaluronic acid concentration and molecular weight in pathological synovial fluids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E. A. Balazs, in “Disorders of the knee”, edited by J. Helfeet (T. B. Lippincot, Philadelphia, 1974) p. 63.
C. W. McCutchen, Bull. Hosp. Jt Dis. Orthop. Inst. 68 (1983) 118.
J. S. Hou, V. C. Mow, W. H. Lai and M. H. Holmes, J. Biomech. 25 (1992) 247.
G. Nuki and J. Ferguson, Rheol. Acta 10 (1971) 8.
W. A. Holmes, M. T. Bayliss and H. Muir, Biochem. J. 250 (1988) 435.
D. L. Gardner, Brit. Med. J. (Clin. Res.) 286 (1983) 418.
P. C. Seller, D. Dowson and V. Wright, Rheol. Acta 10 (1971) 2.
G. B. Thurston and H. Greiling, Rheol. Acta 17 (1978) 433.
H. Zeidler, S. Altmann, B. John, R. Gaffga and W. M. Kulike, Rheol. Acta 18 (1979) 151.
J. Ferguson and G. Nuki, Rheol. Acta 10 (1971) 15.
J. G. Peyron and E. A. Balazs, Path. Biol. 22 (1974) 731.
O. Namiki, H. Toyoshima and N. Morisaki, Int. J. Clin. Pharm. Ther. Toxic. 20 (1982) 501.
R. K. Strachan, P. Smith and D. L. Gardner, Annals Rheumatic Diseases 49 (1990) 949.
M. CARRABBA, E. PARESCE and M. ANGELINI, Eur. J. Inflammation and Rheumatology (in press).
J. D. Ferry, “Viscoelastic properties of polymers” (J. Wiley, New York, 1970).
R. B. Bird, R. C. Armstrong and O. Hassager, “Dynamics of polymeric liquids, fluid mechanics”, Vol. 1 (J. Wiley, New York, 1987).
H. Zeidler and S. Altmann, in “Rheology” edited by G. Astarita, G. Marrucci and L. Nicolais (Plenum Press, New York, 1980) p. 511.
E. D. T. Atkins, C. F. Phelps and J. K. Sheeman, Biochem. J. 128 (1972) 1255.
P. J. Flory, “Principles of polymer chemistry” (Cornell University Press, New York, 1953) p. 629.
E. R. Morris, D. A. Rees and E. J. Welsh, J. Mol. Biol. 138 (1980) 383.
H. Bothner and O. Wik, Acta Otolaryngol. 442 (1987) 25.
H. Bothner and O. Wik, in “Vision and visual health care, Vol. 2, Viscoelastic materials”, edited by E. S. Rosen (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1989) p. 53.
W. W. Graessley, in “Advances in polymer science” Vol. 16 edited by H. J. Cantow et al. (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1974).
W. P. Cox and E. H. Merz, J. Polymer. Sci. 28 (1958) 619.
W. E. Rochefort and S. Middleman, J. Rheol. 31 (1987) 337.
R. Lapasin, S. Pricl and P. Trancanelli, Rheol. Acta 31 (1992) 374.
E. Kreyszig, “Introductory mathematical statistics” (Wiley, New York, 1970) p. 361.
N. Hutadilok, P. Ghosh and P. M. Brooks, Ann. Rheum. Dis. 47 (1988) 377.
P. GHOSH, N. HUTADILOK and A. LENTINI, Heterocycle (accepted for publication)
A. PERBELLINI, G. ABATANGELO, L. FRIZZIERO, U. CORNELLI and E. GOVONI, Collana di aggiornamento in reumatologia 4–5 (1989).
M. M. Smith and P. Ghosh, Rheumatol. Int. 7 (1987) 113.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mensitieri, M., Ambrosio, L., Iannace, S. et al. Viscoelastic evaluation of different knee osteoarthritis therapies. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 6, 130–137 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120288
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120288