The wear particles of synovial fluid: their ferrographic analysis and pathophysiological significance.

This article reviews recent progress in our investigations into the wear particles which accumulate in prosthetic and natural diarthrodial joints. Ferrographic analysis of these particles is providing new insight into the manner in which joints undergo wear in situ. It also has the potential to serve as a diagnostic and prognostic technique, with special application to monitoring very early changes in the wear status of joints and distinguishing the various arthritides. Wear particles interact with periarticular cells and tissues, provoking the release of lytic enzymes and eliciting other biochemical changes, which exacerbate the destruction of the joint.