Both invasive and non-invasive methods of ankle joint distraction for arthroscopic procedures have been described. Challenges prevail in achieving an adequate joint distraction for instrumentation inside the ankle joint especially in patients of large stature. We describe a technique, which safely offers effective joint distraction during ankle arthroscopy without the need for resorting to trac...

We produced large full-thickness articular cartilage defects in 33 rabbits in order to evaluate the effect of joint distraction and autologous culture-expanded bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cell transplantation (ACBMT) at 12 weeks. After fixing the knee on a hinged external fixator, we resected the entire surface of the tibial plateau. We studied three groups: 1) with and without joint distra...

UNLABELLED The facet joint is a common source of pain in both the neck and low back, and can be injured by abnormal loading of the spinal joints. Whereas a host of nociceptive changes including neuronal activation, neuropeptide expression, and inflammatory mediator responses has been reported for rat models of joint pain, no such responses have been explicitly investigated or quantified for pai...

Ankle joint distraction has been shown to be a viable alternative to ankle arthrodesis or ankle replacement. The authors' approach to ankle joint preservation includes articulated ankle joint distraction, resection of blocking osteophytes, release of muscle and joint contractures, and realignment osseous ankle procedures. In a previous study that used this technique, 78% of patients maintained ...

BACKGROUND Modification of joint tissue damage is challenging in late-stage osteoarthritis (OA). Few options are available for treating end-stage knee OA other than joint replacement. OBJECTIVES To examine whether joint distraction can effectively modify knee joint tissue damage and has the potential to delay prosthesis surgery. METHODS 20 patients (<60 years) with tibiofemoral OA were trea...

OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative, disabling joint disease that affects >10% of the adult population. No effective disease-modifying treatment is available. In the present study, we used joint distraction, a relatively new treatment in which mechanical contact between the articular surfaces is avoided while intraarticular intermittent fluid pressure is maintained, to treat patient...

OBJECTIVE To describe an extra-articular joint distractor for meniscal examination and treatment during canine stifle arthroscopy. STUDY DESIGN Case series. ANIMALS Dogs >or=20 kg with suspected cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficiency. METHODS A custom designed linear side bar was constructed to allow invasive pin distraction of the stifle joint. Its design efficacy for distraction of...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Growth inhibition and stimulation have both been reported after juvenile limb lengthening. Distraction of a joint usually suspends and unloads the growth plate and may stimulate growth. We investigated the influence of knee joint distraction on the speed of growth after limb lengthening. METHODS In a retrospective study, growth patterns were analyzed in 30 children mean 6...

The facet joint is commonly associated with neck and low back pain and is susceptible to loading-induced injury. Although tensile loading of the cervical facet joint has been associated with inflammation and neuronal hyperexcitability, the mechanisms of joint loading-induced pain remain unknown. Altered brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are associated with a host of painful condit...