Tamás Oláh1, Xiaoyu Cai1, Jana Christin Michaelis1, Henning Madry2. 1. Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. 2. Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany. Electronic address: henning.madry@uks.eu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The human knee is a complex joint, and affected by a variety of articular cartilage disorders. Large animal models are critical to model the complex disease mechanisms affecting a functional joint. Species-dependent differences highly affect the results of a pre-clinical study and need to be considered, necessitating specific knowledge not only of macroscopic and microscopic anatomical and pathological aspects, but also characteristics of their individual gait and joint movements. METHODS: Literature search in Pubmed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This narrative review summarizes the most relevant anatomical structural and functional characteristics of the knee (stifle) joints of the major translational large animal species, comprising dogs, (mini)pigs, sheep, goats, and horses in comparison with humans. Specific characteristics of each species, including kinematical gait parameters are provided. Considering these multifactorial dimensions will allow to select the appropriate model for answering the research questions in a clinically relevant fashion.
BACKGROUND: The human knee is a complex joint, and affected by a variety of articular cartilage disorders. Large animal models are critical to model the complex disease mechanisms affecting a functional joint. Species-dependent differences highly affect the results of a pre-clinical study and need to be considered, necessitating specific knowledge not only of macroscopic and microscopic anatomical and pathological aspects, but also characteristics of their individual gait and joint movements. METHODS: Literature search in Pubmed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This narrative review summarizes the most relevant anatomical structural and functional characteristics of the knee (stifle) joints of the major translational large animal species, comprising dogs, (mini)pigs, sheep, goats, and horses in comparison with humans. Specific characteristics of each species, including kinematical gait parameters are provided. Considering these multifactorial dimensions will allow to select the appropriate model for answering the research questions in a clinically relevant fashion.