[Acute traumatic cartilage damage. Experimental studies and their practical consequences].

Abstract

Emphasis is placed on the etiology of posttraumatic cartilage damage based on recent experimental findings. The latter suggest that postinjury cartilage impairment cannot only be regarded as a consequence of incongruity of the joint surfaces after intraarticular fractures but that immobilization, primary lesions of the joint surface caused by synovial enzymes, and hemorrhagic effusion are also pathogenetically significant. Furthermore posttraumatic synovitis with its faulty composition of the synovial fluid plays an equally important role in this context. Finally, in summarizing therapeutic recommendations are presented.