The effect of ibuprofen on the thickening, stiffening and development of degenerative changes in the rabbit knee following immobilization.

The right knee of adult rabbits was immobilized in extension for 5 weeks. The rabbits were then allowed to move freely for 8 weeks. Some rabbits were given 100 mg of ibuprofen (Brufen) daily per os during the immobilization and remobilization periods. The controls were not given any drug. The development of the thickness, stiffness and degenerative changes in the knees as a result of immobilization was observed. The thickening was significantly less and the radiological changes were significantly smaller in the knees of those rabbits given ibuprofen than in the controls. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the mobility of the immobilized knees. In the study the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen had a prophylactic effect on some of the pathological processes in the rabbit knee (following immobilization and resulting in progressive osteoarthritis.