Knee Joint Contractures: Reversibility and Molecular Pathways

A contracture is a pathological condition limiting range and function of joints. Contractures of large and small joints alike will affect one's ability to independently perform daily activities such as eating, dressing or walking. Current treatments for contractures include physical stretching, the use of assistive devices or, rarely, surgery. Despite prolonged treatments, patients with contractures rarely regain complete mobility. Progress in preventing and treating contractures will be possible only through an understanding of the biological and molecular processes involved. Our group has established and validated an animal model to study the histological events and the molecular mechanisms involved in joint contractures. We have provided evidence for capsule stiffness, characterized cartilage degeneration, and identified four genes whose expression is altered in the cartilage of a knee joint with contracture. The work we propose in the current study aims at finding genes and pathways in the joint capsule associated with knee joint contractures. The results will identify new avenues for treating the large number of patients suffering from contractures.