Prevention of adhesion of rabbit knee joint with chitosan：an experimental study

Ｐｒｅｖｅｎｔｉｏｎｏｆａｄｈｅｓｉｏｎｏｆｒａｂｂｉｔｋｎｅｅｊｏｉｎｔｗｉｔｈｃｈｉｔｏｓａｎ：ａｎｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔａｌｓｔｕｄｙＹｅＧｅｎｍａｏ（叶根茂）；ＨｏｕＣｈｕｎｌｉｎ（侯春林）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＯｒｔｈｏｐａｅｄｉｃｓ，Ｃ...

Prevention of adhesion of rabbit knee joint with chitosan:an experimental study

Adult New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. The knee joint of rabbits was experimentally traumatized. 2% solution of chitosan was applied in the experimental group (group A). The rabbits of the control group (group B) were not treated with chitosan. The hind limb of the rabbits was immobilized with plaster cast from toe to groin. After 3 or 6 weeks,the animals were killed and the specimens were observed. The results showed that the degree of angular movement of the knee joint in group A was greater than that of group B (P<0.01). Adhesion in group B was more severe than that in group A (P<0. 01). Histological studies indicated slight synovium,little connective tissue in suprapatellar sac and collagenous fiber in matrix,and normal shape and size of the synovial cell in group A. The results of this study suggest that chitosan can prevent or alleviate post-traumatic adhesion of joint.