Summary:We measured the in situ biomechanical properties of knee joint cartilage from five species (bovine, canine, human, monkey, and rabbit) to examine the biomechanical relevance of animal models of human knee joint injuries and osteoarthritis. In situ biphasic creep indentation experiments were performed to simultaneously determine all three intrinsic material coefficients (aggregate modulus, Poisson's ratio, and permeability) of the cartilage as represented by the linear KLM biphasic model. In addition, we also assessed the effects of load bearing on these intrinsic properties at "high" and "low" weight-bearing regions on the distal femur. Our results indicate that significant differences exist in some of these material properties among species and sites. The aggregate modulus of the anterior patellar groove within each species is the lowest among all sites tested, and the permeability of the patellar groove cartilage is the highest and does not vary among species. Similarly, the Poisson's ratio in the patellar groove is the lowest in all species, except in the rabbit. These results lead to the conclusion that patellar groove cartilage can undergo greater and faster compression. Thus, under high compressive loads, the cartilage of the patellar groove surface can more rapidly compress to create a congruent patellofemoral joint articulation. For any given location, no differences were found in the aggregate modulus among all the species, and no correlation was found between aggregate modulus and thickness at the test site. Thus, in the process of selecting a suitable experimental animal model of human articular cartilage, it is essential to consider the significant interspecies differences of the mechanical properties.

Epidemiological studies are necessary for research, clinical applications, and public health and health policy initiatives. This study reports national estimates of upper extremity fractures with subgroup analysis.

The changes in the tensile mechanical properties and biochemical composition of the superficial zone of articular cartilage were examined in a canine model of early osteoarthritis generated by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament. Sixteen weeks following ligament transection, the tensile stiffness of the articular cartilage was decreased by 44% and the ion-induced stress relaxation of the tissue was increased by 57% compared with the contralateral control. Biochemical analyses indicated that the water content of the experimental tissue was increased by 13%, which was reflected as an apparent 37% decrease in the proteoglycan content and a 36% decrease in the collagen content (expressed per wet weight). The hydroxypyridinium crosslink density was decreased in the experimental tissue by 11%. A significant negative correlation was found between the ion-induced stress relaxation and the hydroxypyridinium crosslink density in both control tissue (R = -0.56) and experimental tissue (R = -0.70). No correlation was noted between the tensile stiffness and the biochemical composition of the tissue. These results suggest that, in the superficial zone of articular cartilage, the structure of the tissue may play a more important role than the composition in the determination of its mechanical properties. A major event observed in the model of early osteoarthritis appears to be the disruption and remodeling of the collagen network in the superficial zone of the articular cartilage.

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