The effect of estrogen replacement therapy on the progression of trauma-induced knee osteoarthritis in the ovariectomized rat model

Abstract

Purpose: Meniscal tears and decline in circulating estrogen are known risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thus, postmenopausal women are at higher risk of cartilage degradation related to knee OA. Previous studies have shown that estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) effectively treats cartilage defects in the knees of postmenopausal women. Surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) is a proven technique to induce OA in a rat model. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ERT in modulating the progression of OA when provided before DMM surgery in female ovariectomized (OVX) rats.