Tribological aspects of joint intraaricular therapy.

The condition of synovial joints affected by synovitis or degeneration dystrophy has been usually normalized by drugs of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and/or lubricating-protective action injected into the joint cavity. These preparations influence, but in different way, the friction in joints and wear of cartilages, even if they belong to the same pharmacological group and follow the same medication mechanism. With the development of a large group of lubricating-and-protective substitutes for the synovial fluid the tribological efficiency of injection drugs has begun to attract attention, whereas no information is available in the literature on pharmacopoeia or orthopedics about the lubricity of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs commonly used as injections. The mechanisms by which structure and properties of lubricating films containing drugs undergo transformation under the influence of biological field in joints remain in fact unknown. In vitro experiments have been conducted to simulate a biofield of a joint; the lubricity of some injection drugs used in orthopedics has been evaluated.