Current State of Synovial Fluid Biomarkers in Sports Medicine

While the gross mechanical abnormalities contributing to posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) have been well described, new research is demonstrating that these insults to the articular cartilage may also initiate changes in the joint microenvironment that seed the development of PTOA.

A growing amount of literature has identified key biomarkers that exhibit altered expression in the synovial fluid following a knee injury, with a portion of these molecules remaining elevated in the years following an injury.

These biomarkers have the potential to aid in the early detection of PTOA before radiographic evidence becomes apparent. Furthermore, deciphering the processes that occur within the articular microenvironment after trauma may allow for better identification of therapeutic targets for the prevention and earlier treatment of PTOA.