Experimental immunology
Beneficial effect of methylprednisolone on the postoperative function of rabbit knee

The research was done on 33 crossbreed rabbits of both sexes. The control group was made up of 10 rabbits, not treated with methylprednisolone.The research group was made up of 23 rabbits treated with methylprednisolone /1 mg/kg/day/. Depot type /Depo-Medrol of Upjohn/ made the experiment easier and decreased the risk of local infection.
All rabbits underwent partial synovectomy of the right knee under local anesthesia with 0.5% of xylocaine, followed by immobilization of the operated joint in sitting position.The plaster cast was left for 2 weeks, then removed and unrestricted rabbit’s activity within a cage was permitted.
Examination of mobility range in the knee-joint was done by a goniometer on operated and unoperated knees in experimental and control group immediately after the removal of the plaster cast i.e.
2 weeks after surgery and 1 week after free in cage activity.
The functional results 2 weeks after surgery reveled difference of 48.5 degrees of movement between operated comparing to unoperated knee in control group, and only 7.5 degrees/!/ in the group treated with Depo-Medrol.
The 3 weeks after surgery the difference of range of movement in control group was 36 degrees and only 2.6 in group treated with steroids.
There was no difference in cells counts of blood, level of alkaline phosphates and calcaemia between control and steroids group of rabbits. The rabbits treated with Depo-Medrol showed small and transitory hyperglicaemia and hypergliceridemia.
Further investigations made in orthopedic practice have to be done to introduce steroids as a safe and proof treatment of some difficult cases in human knee surgery.