Comparative Morphological Examination of Experimental Patellar Dislocation

Numerous experiments have demonstrated that degenerative changes can result both from alterations in the mechanical, stress-dynamic features or from disturbances in the biological balance of the knee joint constituents (Barz 1982; Mohr and Kirkpatrick 1983; Stockwell 1983). Arthrosis can therefore be produced experimentally by various methods (Barnett 1956; Bentley 1975; Kalbhen et al. 1981; Dustmann et al. 1974; Simon 1978; Floman et al. 1980; Pond and Nuki 1973; Stockwell and Sprinz 1981; Kiss and Foldes 1983). The aim of our experiments was to investigate the early stages in the development of arthrosis as produced specifically by the dislocation of the patella. We have examined the alterations of GAGs, collagen and cytological structures of articular cartilage in the femoropatellar and femorotibial joints, using radiochemical, histochemical and electron microscopical methods.