title: No beneficial effects of joint distraction on early microscopical changes in osteoarthrotic knees. A study in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although promising results have been reported, on the use of joint distraction in osteoarthrotic joints, the mechanism behind the effects has not yet been expland.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups and osteoarthrosis was induced by papain injection. The first group served as control and the others were treated by simple external fixation (group 2), articulated distraction (group 3) or nonarticulated distraction (group 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histologically, there was no significant difference between the first, the second and the third groups. However, osteoarthrosis increased in group 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that joint distraction has no beneficial effect on the osteoarthrotic cartilage in papain-induced osteoarthrosis, and nonarticulated distraction worsens the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahattin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karadam
authors.forename: Vasfi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karatosun
authors.forename: Nergis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Sermin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkal
authors.forename: Izge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gunal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits