The changes in synovial fluid composition of patients with neglected and recent meniscus injuries

The values of general protein, protein fractions, uronic acids, sialic acids, synovial fluid sulfates in the groups of patients with traumatic meniscus injuries and posttraumatic osteoarthrosis of the knee are compared. The data obtained allow to make a conclusion that in these groups of patients the concentrations of general protein and sialic acids increase, the amount of uronic acids and percentage content of 1-globulin fraction decreases, that is to say, the metabolic changes of carbohydrate-and-protein synovia compounds having the same direction take place. The correlation of uronic acids and general protein, characterizing the permeability of hemosynovial barrier, is of mean degree for normal joints and in case of traumatic meniscus injuries. The absence of correlation of these values for degenerative changes in joints shows that the process is of systemic character, and the unbalancing of all metabolic and functional systems including vascular reactions occurs.