A study on temperature regulation in synovialjoints

Abstract

This paper deals with studies of the temperature regulation insynovial joints. During articulation, a certain amount ofintra-articular heat is generated due to joint activity andfrictional resistance. The movement of the interstitial fluidwithin the intra-articular gap and the exchange of fluid to andfrom the cartilage plays an important role in joint functionsincluding the regulation of heat. Analytically, the problem isformulated as a two-region flow and diffusion model: flow andthermal diffusion within the intra-articular gap and within theporous matrices covering the approaching bones at the joint. Thecoupled governing equations are solved as a two-region mixedboundary value problem with suitable boundary and matchingconditions and using perturbation technique. It has been observedthat the rise in temperature is more in the osteo-arthriticsynovial fluid as compared to normal and young synovial fluids.In normal subjects, there is hardly any rise intemperature.