The importance of performing knee surgery in rats

Approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur each year in the United States, with approximately half of these leading to ACL reconstruction surgery [1]. ACL injuries trigger a biological response that includes cell death/apoptosis and a surge of inflammatory cytokines and degradative enzymes such as cathepsin proteases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [2]. ACL deficiency also typically results in biomechanical changes in the joint, including anterior-posterior (AP) and rotational instability in the knee, which is strongly correlated with subsequent cartilage degeneration and development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) [3].
Source: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage - Category: Rheumatology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research