Joint pressure influences synovial tissue blood flow as determined by colored microspheres.

This research study investigates how joint pressure affects blood flow in synovial tissue, the soft tissue that lines the spaces of diarthrodial joints, in horses. The research indicates that increased intra-articular pressure, the pressure within a joint, significantly decreases the blood flow in the synovial membrane, which may have implications for the development of joint disease.

Methodology

• The study was conducted on six normal adult horses that were anesthetized for the procedure.
• To measure regional blood flow in the synovial tissue, the researchers used 15 microns diameter polystyrene colored microspheres. These are tiny, colored beads that can be tracked as they move through the bloodstream.
• The researchers looked at three joint types: the antebrachiocarpal, midcarpal, and metacarpophalangeal joints.

Findings

• Through this study, the researchers were able to compare blood flows in the midcarpal fibrous capsule and synovial membrane.
• They found that the blood flow in the fibrous joint capsule of the midcarpal joint was statistically lower than that in the synovial membrane.
• They also discovered that increasing the intra-articular pressure in the midcarpal joint (to 30 or 60 mmHg) led to a significant 84% decrease in synovial membrane blood flow.

Implications

• The researchers used colored microspheres, which proved to be a useful technique for measuring sequential blood flow in the synovial membrane.
• The findings of the study indicate the crucial role regional blood circulation can play in the onset of joint disease.
• This research may help pave the way for further investigations on how to manage joint diseases in horses, as well as potentially translatable findings for human joint health.