Kaneguchi Akinori, Okahara Ryo, Masuhara Nanami, Doi Yoshika, Yamaoka Kaoru, Ozawa Junya
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, Kurose-Gakuendai 555-36, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, Kurose-Gakuendai 555-36, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Tissue Cell. 2025 Feb;92:102628. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102628. Epub 2024 Nov 22.
Non-weightbearing or immobilization after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction accelerates cartilage degeneration. However, it is unclear whether these adverse effects are reversed by reloading or remobilization. Moreover, it is unknown whether the combination of non-weightbearing and immobilization after ACL reconstruction has synergistic effects on cartilage degeneration. We aimed to determine 1) the long-term effects of reloading or remobilization following short-term non-weightbearing or immobilization after ACL reconstruction on cartilage degeneration and 2) the combined effects of non-weightbearing and immobilization on cartilage degeneration. We divided ACL-reconstructed rats into four groups: no intervention, non-weightbearing, joint immobilization, and non-weightbearing plus immobilization. Non-weightbearing and immobilization were performed for 2 weeks, after which all rats were reared without intervention. Untreated rats were used as controls. At 2, 4, or 12 weeks after starting the experiment, cartilage degeneration in the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of the medial tibial plateau was histologically assessed. Two weeks of non-weightbearing or immobilization after ACL reconstruction facilitated cartilage degeneration in the middle and posterior regions compared to those with no intervention. Cartilage degeneration was not reversed by 10 weeks of reloading or remobilization. Compared with non-weightbearing alone, combination of non-weightbearing and immobilization improved cartilage degeneration in the middle region, but worsened it in the posterior region. Cartilage degeneration induced by 2 weeks of non-weightbearing or immobilization after ACL reconstruction was not reversed by reloading or remobilization. Thus, to reduce cartilage degeneration, non-weightbearing and immobilization should be avoided after ACL reconstruction, even for short-term.
前交叉韧带（ACL）重建术后不负重或固定会加速软骨退变。然而，目前尚不清楚这些不良影响是否会通过重新负重或恢复活动而得到逆转。此外，ACL重建术后不负重与固定相结合是否会对软骨退变产生协同作用也尚不清楚。我们旨在确定：1）ACL重建术后短期不负重或固定后重新负重或恢复活动对软骨退变的长期影响；2）不负重与固定对软骨退变的联合影响。我们将ACL重建的大鼠分为四组：无干预组、不负重组、关节固定组和不负重加固定组。不负重和固定持续2周，之后所有大鼠在无干预的情况下饲养。未处理的大鼠用作对照。在实验开始后的2、4或12周，对内侧胫骨平台前部、中部和后部区域的软骨退变进行组织学评估。与无干预组相比，ACL重建术后2周的不负重或固定促进了中部和后部区域的软骨退变。重新负重或恢复活动10周并未逆转软骨退变。与单纯不负重相比，不负重与固定相结合改善了中部区域的软骨退变，但使后部区域的软骨退变恶化。ACL重建术后2周的不负重或固定所诱导的软骨退变并未因重新负重或恢复活动而得到逆转。因此，为减少软骨退变，即使是短期的，ACL重建术后也应避免不负重和固定。
