Summary
In order to quantify the alterations in subchrondral bone and to compare the changes
with the severity of the cartilage lesions, a quantitative histological analysis of
articular cartilage and subchrondral bone from osteoarthritic and normal femoral heads
was performed.
The analyses were based on 12 femoral heads, seven which were osteoarthritic and five
controls. Coronal sections were made and divided into four separate sites to include
two weight-bearing and two non-weight-bearing. For each area the percentage volume
of trabecular bone was determined by histomorphometry and the degree of cartilage
degeneration was evaluated according to a histologicalhistochemical grading system.
The data obtained showed wide variations from site to site, in osteoarthritic femoral
heads, with consistently more pronounced alterations in cartilage and subchrondral
bone in the weight-bearing areas. Bone thickening and cartilage degeneration were
distinctly increased in osteoarthritic joints, in contrast to the control group. By
comparing the bony changes with the severity of the cartilage lesions, a correlation
of moderate significance was found between the degeneration of the cartilage and sclerosis
of the subchrondral bone.
Sections from osteoarthritic and normal canine femoral heads were obtained and divided
into weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing areas. The trabecular bone area (%) and
the severity of cartilage degeneration were determined by bone histo-morphology and
a cartilage histological-histochemical grading system.
Bone thickening and cartilage degeneration were increased in osteoarthritic joints,
when compared to normal controls with consistently more pronounced alterations in
weight-bearing areas. The severity of the cartilage lesions were found to corre-late
with subchrondral bone sclerosis.
Keywords
Osteoarthritis - subchrondral bone - trabecular bone area - cartilage degeneration
