Joint path Flashcards

1
Q

Where does articular cartilage receive its nutrition?

A

Synovial fluid

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2
Q

Pathologically, which joints are important?

A

Joints between the vertebrae, synovial joints

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3
Q

What produces synovial fluid?

A

The synovial membrane, which lines the inner surface of the joint capsule

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4
Q

What are the important features of synovial fluid?

A

Viscocity - it needs to be quite viscous. Allows for low friction movement.

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5
Q

What may you see in chronic joint disease?

A

o Increased opacity around the bone -> with chronic inflammatory changes you get a thickened joint capsule. May begin to see new bone formation.
o May see variation in the gap between the bones as well

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6
Q

What is the usual colour of articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage)?

A

Blue white as it is far from blood supply (recieves nutrition from synovial fluid)

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7
Q

How do joints respond to injury?

A
  • Articular cartilage has a limited reesponse to injury and minimal capacity for repair
  • if subchondral bone is involved, the defect is quickly filled with vascular fibrous tissue which undergoes metaplasia to fibrocartilage
  • Articular catilage does NOT particupate in an inflammatory response
  • Inflammatory mediators are bad for joints -> inflammatory mediators can damage articular cartilage by degrading collagen or proteoglycan, they also inhibit proteoglycan synthesis
  • degenerative changes to articular cartilage is usually accompanied by formation of periarticular osteophytes and synovial inflammation and synovial hyperplasia
  • Synovial hyperplasia (chronic)
  • synovial membrane hypertrophy and hyperplasia
  • synovial fluid loses some of its lubricating properties because hyaluronic acid is degraded by inflammatory products
  • pannus may develop in some chronic inflammatory conditions (fibrovascular histiocytic tissue) -> pannus promotes destruction of underlying cartilage
  • glucocorticoids are bad for joints by ↓ synthesis of cartilaginous matrix, ↓ repair, ↓ mechanical strength of cartilage, ↑ depletion of proteoglycans
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8
Q

What are some examples of joint disease?

A
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • inflammatory joint disease (arthritis)
  • osteochondrosis
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9
Q

What changes would you expect to see in chronic degenerative joint disease - hip dysplasia?

A
  • Changes to the density of bone around the joint
  • Remodelling of the head of the femur
  • may not appear as a ball and socket joint
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10
Q

What are the aims in the treatment of DJD?

A
  • Aims are to reduce inflammatory response to the chronic injury and maintain normal conformation
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11
Q

What animals do we most commonly see inflammatory joint disease (arthritis) in?

A

Most commonly seen in farm animals

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12
Q

What are the culprits in terms of infectious agens of disease causing inflammatory joint disease (arthritis)?

A
  • Usually bacterial (haematogenous, direct extension) though sometimes viral
  • Actinobacillus, Erysipelothrix, E. coli, Haemophilus, Mycoplasma, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus, bovine ephemeral fever virus
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13
Q

What would you expect to see microscopically in inflammatory joint disease?

A

strong inflammatory infiltrate (likely plasma cells and lymphocytes), proliferation of the synovium, loss of cartilage, fibrosis around joint capsule, synovial proliferation

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14
Q

What would you expect to see microscopically in septic arthritis?

A

suppurative response, would likely see organisms present

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15
Q

Explain IVDD

A

 joint material starts to impinge on the spinal cord causing a neuropathy

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16
Q

What is osteochondrosis (OCD)?

A

o focal failure of endochondral ossification and degeneration of overlying articular cartilage

17
Q

What conditions is OCD associated with?

A

Hip dysplasia
wobbler syndrome

18
Q

What would you expect to see grossly in OCD

A
  • Loss of articular cartilage
19
Q

In which animals does OCD most commonly occur?

A

Important disease of pigs, horses and large dog breeds. Also occurs in cattle, sheep and deer.

More common in young, fast growing animals particularly males

20
Q

What diagnostic tools can be used to investigate joint disease?

A
  • plain & contrast radiography
  • CT
  • ultrasonograpy
  • arthroscopy
  • synovial biopsy - hardly ever do biopsies of articular cartilage as it does not heal well
  • haematology to look for evidence of inflammation
  • Biochemistry to look for acute phases reactants
  • synovial fluid collection & analysis (volume, cellularity, protein levels, aetiological agent ? / culture)
  • Arthroscopy