The effects of traumatic joint disease can be devastating, often resulting in poor performance, downtime, and economic loss.

A healthy synovial joint
A synovial joint consists of articulating surfaces of bone covered by cartilage, contained within a fibrous joint capsule with a synovial membrane lining. The cavity within these structures contains synovial fluid.

Examples of synovial joints include the fetlock, carpus and hock joints.

Articular cartilage consists of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulfate and collagens. Cartilage does not have its own blood supply; instead it relies upon receiving nutrition from the joint fluid and the bone directly beneath the cartilage. Joint fluid also reduces friction between the articular cartilage during movement. Healthy joint fluid viscocity (thickness) is high, and is directly related to the HA content.