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. 1995 Jun 1;36(2):213–222. doi: 10.1186/BF03547690

Methods and Errors in Measurements of Synovial Fluid Volume in Stifles with Low Volume and High Viscosity Synovial Fluid. An Experimental Study in Goats

A M Rørvik 1,✉
PMCID: PMC8095434  PMID: 7484548

Abstract

Synovial fluid (SF) volume was calculated using various methods in the stifles of goats, in which the cranial cruciate ligament had been transected on one side. Measurements were performed prior to surgery and again 4,8, and 18 weeks following surgery, by measuring the dilution of an injected radioactive tracer diluted by the SF. Later, 7 months following surgery, SF volume measurements using simple arthrocentesis were performed on stifles in 9 of the goats, and the SF that could not be aspirated, was calculated using 2 indirect methods simultaneously on identical fluids in 3 of these goats. SF was also collected directly during staged arthrotomy of the stifles in 4 goats.

There were conflicting results between methods, but the resulting calculated SF volumes seemed to be larger in the operated stifles compared to the controls for all the methods at about the same degree. The 2 indirect methods used to calculate the fluid remaining in the joints following arthrocentesis gave disparate volume calculations. The experiments revealed sources of error in all methods. Direct methods failed to acquire the total fluid volume, and indirect methods were subject to improper mixing and escape of the injected fluid or synovial fluid or both. It was concluded that none of the methods could be used to measure the “true” volume of SF, if such a concept exists and can be defined. None of the methods were considered reliable to compare volumes in different type of joints containing this type of fluid. It was, however, concluded that all the methods gave indication of increased SF volume present on a relative basis when paired joints were compared.

Keywords: volume calculation, RIS A, joint fluid, animal model, markers

Full Text

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to professor Monika østensen, Department of Rheumatology, Trondheim Central Hospital and professor Ronald D. Sande, Department of Radiology, Washington State University, for their contribution and personal support. Thanks also to professor Dick Heinegård, Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Lund, Sweden, for analyzes of synovial fluids and professor Nils Normann, The Hormone Laboratory, Aker Hospital, Oslo, for supplying the RISA used in the measurements. Finally thanks to Eva Solberg and others of the technical personal in the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine. The study was founded by The Research Council of Norway.

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