There is great enthusiasm by some for surgical reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee. Many who have lost their ACL go on to develop osteoarthrosis. The paradox is that others, following ACL rupture, continue to function without problems, even at the professional athletic level. In addition, although meniscal damage is more common following ACL loss, its role in the pathophysiology of osteoarthrosis after ACL rupture is unclear. We hypothesize that the degree of dynamic instability of the knee after ACL loss varies from individual to individual, and is correlated to the degree of subsequent meniscal damage and the development of osteoarthrosis. Using a canine model of ACL transection, the time history of events which follow ACL loss will be documented to define the relationships between dynamic knee instability, meniscal breakdown, and osteoarthrosis. Knee dynamic instability will be assessed during gait by three dimensional photogrammetric analysis based on a unique high-speed biplanar digital radiography system. Articular and meniscal changes will be determined with MRI. Kinematic and MRI testing will be performed on each of 25 dogs before and serially for two years after ACL transection. The goal of this project is to clarify the importance of altered mechanics on the development of osteoarthrosis of the knee following ACL loss. These findings should have significant clinical implications upon the choice of appropriate care of individuals following ACL injury, creating a rational predictive basis for when to surgically intervene.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR043860-03
Application #
2517509
Study Section
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Special Grants Review Committee (AMS)
Project Start
1995-09-25
Project End
1999-08-31
Budget Start
1997-09-01
Budget End
1998-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Henry Ford Health System
Department
Orthopedics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073134603
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Anderst, William J; Tashman, Scott (2010) Using relative velocity vectors to reveal axial rotation about the medial and lateral compartment of the knee. J Biomech 43:994-7
Anderst, William J; Tashman, Scott (2009) The association between velocity of the center of closest proximity on subchondral bones and osteoarthritis progression. J Orthop Res 27:71-7
Papaioannou, G; Nianios, G; Mitrogiannis, C et al. (2008) Patient-specific knee joint finite element model validation with high-accuracy kinematics from biplane dynamic Roentgen stereogrammetric analysis. J Biomech 41:2633-8
Anderst, W J; Les, C; Tashman, S (2005) In vivo serial joint space measurements during dynamic loading in a canine model of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 13:808-16
Tashman, Scott; Anderst, William; Kolowich, Patricia et al. (2004) Kinematics of the ACL-deficient canine knee during gait: serial changes over two years. J Orthop Res 22:931-41
Liu, Wenhua; Burton-Wurster, Nancy; Glant, Tibor T et al. (2003) Spontaneous and experimental osteoarthritis in dog: similarities and differences in proteoglycan levels. J Orthop Res 21:730-7
Anderst, William J; Tashman, Scott (2003) A method to estimate in vivo dynamic articular surface interaction. J Biomech 36:1291-9
Zachos, Terri A; Arnoczky, Steven P; Lavagnino, Michael et al. (2002) The effect of cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency on caudal cruciate ligament morphology: An experimental study in dogs. Vet Surg 31:596-603