Effects of imbalanced muscle loading on hip joint development and maturation
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Ford, CA
Nowlan, NC
Thomopoulos, S
Killian, ML
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The mechanical loading environment influences the development and maturation of joints. In this study, the influence of imbalanced muscular loading on joint development was studied using localized chemical denervation of hip stabilizing muscle groups in neonatal mice. It was hypothesized that imbalanced muscle loading, targeting either Gluteal muscles or Quadriceps muscles, would lead to bilateral hip joint asymmetry, as measured by acetabular coverage, femoral head volume and bone morphometry, and femoral-acetabular shape. The contralateral hip joints as well as age-matched, uninjected mice were used as controls. Altered bone development was analyzed using micro-computed tomography, histology, and image registration techniques at post-natal days (P) 28, 56, and 120. This study found that unilateral muscle unloading led to reduced acetabular coverage of the femoral head, lower total volume, lower bone volume ratio, and lower mineral density, at all three time points. Histologically, the femoral head was smaller in unloaded hips, with thinner triradiate cartilage at P28 and thinner cortical bone at P120 compared to contralateral hips. Morphological shape changes were evident in unloaded hips at P56. Unloaded hips had lower trabecular thickness and increased trabecular spacing of the femoral head compared to contralateral hips. The present study suggests that decreased muscle loading of the hip leads to altered bone and joint shape and growth during post-natal maturation. Statement of Clinical Significance: Adaptations from altered muscle loading during postnatal growth investigated in this study have implications on developmental hip disorders that result from asymmetric loading, such as patients with limb-length inequality or dysplasia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Date Issued
2016-07-08
Date Acceptance
2016-07-02
Citation
Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2016, 35 (5), pp.1128-1136
ISSN
1554-527X
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1128
End Page
1136
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Orthopaedic Research
Volume
35
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This is the accepted version of the following article: Ford, C. A., Nowlan, N. C., Thomopoulos, S. and Killian, M. L. (2016), Effects of imbalanced muscle loading on hip joint development and maturation. J. Orthop. Res., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jor.23361.
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Grant Number
336306
Subjects
hip
maturation
morphology
muscle loading
postnatal growth
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Denervation
Hip Joint
Mice
Muscle, Skeletal
Weight-Bearing
0903 Biomedical Engineering
1103 Clinical Sciences
1106 Human Movement And Sports Science
Orthopedics
Publication Status
Published