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Effects of Uygur sand therapy on bone mechanical properties of femurs of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis

HUANG Shao-jun1, JULAITI Maitirouzi1, HU Xiao-xin1, DILINA Mahemuti1, MUHETAER Kelimu1, ZHANG Chun-guang1, ABULIMITI Maimaiti1, AIERXIDING Abulaiti2, ZHANG Rui2   

  1. 1.College of Mechanical Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China; 2.Medical Image Center, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
  • Online:2014-06-28 Published:2014-06-30
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China,81160542,81160458,51365052; Project of Department of Science and Technology, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China,201123113,2013211A020

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of Uygur sand therapy on bone mechanical properties of femurs of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods The OA model was established by injecting papain in right posterior femoral articular cavity of 16 New Zealand rabbits. Rabbits were then divided into the sand therapy group (n=8) and control group (n=8). The sand therapy group underwent the sand therapy in a place that simulated the Turpan sand therapy field, 2 times per day, 30 min per time for 4 weeks. The control group did not receive the sand therapy. Femurs of rabbits were scanned by CT and data was collected. Interactive medical image control system (MIMICS) was used to analyze and compare the volume of each bone layer (soft bone, compact bone, and cortical bone) of two groups. The threepoint bending test was conducted in vitro for the left and right posterior femurs of rabbits of two groups to obtain the load-deflection curve. The cross sectional moment of inertia, maximum bending normal stress, and maximum shear stress were calculated by comparing the load and deflection. The data of CT scans and results of three-point bending tests were summarized and compared. Results The analytical results of the CT scan data of each bone layer showed that the cortical bone of the control group tended to transfer to the compact bone and soft bone, while the soft bone of the sand therapy group significantly transferred to the compact bone and cortical bone. The results of three-point bending test showed that morphological parameters of the femur section of the sand therapy group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The maximum load, maximum bending normal stress, and maximum shear stress of the femur section of the sand therapy group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The differences of the cross sectional moment of inertia and deflection of two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion The sand therapy has positive effects on the volume distribution of bone layer and mechanical properties of femurs of adult OA rabbits.

Key words: Uyghur sand therapy, osteoarthritis, bone layer, materialise's interactive medical image control system, three-point bending test