The effect of ageing and osteoarthritis on the mechanical properties of cartilage and bone in the human knee joint (original) (raw)
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Osteoarthritis and cartilage / OARS, Osteoarthritis Research Society, 2009
To compare the tensile biomechanical properties of age-matched adult human knee articular cartilage exhibiting distinct stages of degenerative or osteoarthritic deterioration and to determine the relationships between tensile properties and biochemical and structural properties hypothesized to underlie functional biomechanical deterioration. Age-matched articular cartilage samples, obtained from the lateral and medial femoral condyles (LFC and MFC), exhibited (1) minimal fibrillation, characteristic of normal aging (NLA), (2) overt fibrillation associated with degeneration (DGN), or (3) overt fibrillation associated with osteoarthritis (OA). DGN samples were from knees that exhibited degeneration but not osteophytes while OA samples were from fragments removed during total knee arthroplasty. Cartilage samples were analyzed for tensile properties, cell and matrix composition, and histopathological structure. Differences in tensile, compositional and surface structural properties were...
Comparison of biomechanical and biochemical properties of cartilage from human knee and ankle pairs
Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2000
Cartilage was obtained from eight matched knee (tibiofemoral and femoropatellar) and ankle (talocrural) joints of five different donors (both left and right from donors 14, 22, and 38 years of age, and left only from donors 31 and 45 years of age) within 24 hours of death. All cartilage was graded as normal by the macroscopic visual Collins' scale and the histological Mankin scale. Cylindrical disks of cartilage were harvested from 10 sites within the tibiofemoral and femoropatellar joint surfaces and four sites within the talocrural joint. and uniaxial confincd compression measurements were performed to quantify a spectrum of physical properties including the equilibrium modulus, hydraulic permeability, dynamic stiffness, streaming potential, electrokinetic coupling coefficient, and electrical conductivity. Matched specimens from the same 14 sites were used for complementary measurements of biochemical composition and molecular interaction, including water content, hypotonic swelling behavior, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan and collagen contents. In comparison of the top 1-mm slices of talar cartilage with the top 1-mm of tibiofemoral cartilage. the talar cartilage appeared denser with a higher sulfated glycosaminoglycan content, lower water content. higher equilibrium modulus and dynamic stiffness, and lower hydraulic pcrmcability. The equilibrium modulus increased with increasing sulfated glycosaininoglycans per wct wcight and decreased with increasing water content for all joint surfaces. Multiple linear regression showcd that greater than 80% of the variation in the equilibrium modulus could be accounted for by variations in the biochemical parameters (water content, sulfated glycosaminoglycansiwet weight, and hydroxyproline contentiwcl wcight) for each joint surface. Nonhomogeneous depth-dependent changes in the physical properties and biochemical composition of fullthickness distal femoral cartilage were consistent with previous reports. Since the comprcssive deformation of cartilage during cyclic loading is confined to the more superficial rcgions, the differences in properties of the upper regions of the talar compared with tibiofemoral or femoropatellar cartilage may be important in the eliology of osteoarthritis.
Rheumatology, 2004
Objectives. Studies have suggested an inverse association between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis, based on the presence of osteophytes rather than joint space narrowing (JSN), an indirect measure of joint cartilage. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the relationship between knee cartilage volume, a direct measure of joint cartilage, and bone mineral density (BMD) in an adult population. Methods. 86 adults aged 55.1AE10.4 years (50% females) had total BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Site-specific BMD was performed on men in the study. Tibial and patella cartilage volumes were determined by processing images acquired in the sagittal plane using T 1-weighted fat saturation magnetic resonance on an independent work station. Results. Tibial knee cartilage volume was positively associated with total body BMD in both men and women after adjusting for age, BMI, tibial bone area and physical activity. In men, tibial cartilage volume was positively associated with proximal femur BMD, but not lumbar spine BMD. No relationship was seen between patellar cartilage volume and BMD at any region. Conclusions. We have shown a positive association between tibial cartilage volume and total BMD in men and women, but no such association with patellar cartilage volume. The mechanism for this is unclear but may represent a common environmental or genetic component. This study also highlights the need to examine the osteophyte and joint cartilage separately when investigating factors affecting the joint in health and disease since each feature is likely to reflect different aspects of the pathogenic process in OA.
Longitudinal study of changes in tibial and femoral cartilage in knee osteoarthritis
Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2004
Objective. Despite the increasing interest in knee cartilage volume as an outcome measure in studies of osteoarthritis (OA), it is unclear what components of knee cartilage will be most useful as markers of structural change in the tibiofemoral joint. This study was undertaken to longitudinally compare changes in femoral and tibial cartilage volume in patients with OA.
Mechanical properties of the normal human tibial cartilage-bone complex in relation to age
Clinical Biomechanics, 1998
Objective. This study investigates the age-related variations in the mechanical properties of the normal human tibia1 cartilagebone complex and the relationships between cartilage and bone. Design. A novel technique was applied to assess the mechanical properties of the cartilage and bone by means of testing the cartilage-bone complex. Background. Up to now, mechanical testing of cartilage and bone has been reported separately, and little is known about the mechanical behaviour of both tissues when examined as a unit. Methods. Cylindrical human proximal tibia1 cartilage-bone complex specimens from 31 normal donors aged 16-83 years were tested in compression. The deformation was measured simultaneously in bone and cartilage to obtain the mechanical properties of both tissues. Results. The stiffnesses and elastic energies of both cartilage and bone showed an initial increase, with maxima at 40 years, followed by a steady decline. The viscoelastic energy was maximal at younger ages (16-29 years), followed by a steady decline. The energy absorption capacity did not vary with age. Stiffnesses and elastic energies were correlated significantly between cartilage and bone. Conclusions. The present study demonstrates that similar age-related trends were seen in cartilage and bone, as if they behaved as a single mechanical unit. Relevance The basic information presented here on the mechanical properties of cartilage and bone and the correlations between them reveals the unit function of both tissues that are of importance for the understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases, such as arthrosis.
The Foot, 2009
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease yet its pathophysiology is still poorly understood. It is more prevalent in some lower limb joints than others; in particular the knee is more commonly affected than the ankle. Research into articular cartilage and OA has primarily focussed on using animal models. However, it is apparent that articular cartilage differs between species, so more research is concentrating on human cartilage. Objective: This paper reviews recent studies that have been undertaken to elucidate the reasons for this, and to discover if the findings would alter the conception that articular cartilage is not capable of repair. Method: Primary research papers into human knee and ankle cartilage published since 1997 have been reviewed. Results: Differences in the structure, metabolism, physical properties and response to trauma have been found, implying that ankle cartilage may be more resistant to damage. Conclusions: More research is needed before definitive conclusions can be reached, but the findings so far suggest that OA should not be accepted as the inevitable outcome of joint injury and individuals and practitioners, such as podiatrists, may be able to use simple measures to prevent or delay its onset.
Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft, 2014
In osteoarthritis animal models the rat knee is one of the most frequently investigated joint. However, it is unknown whether topographical variations in articular cartilage and subchondral bone of the normal rat knee exist and how they are linked or influenced by growth and maturation. Detailed knowledge is needed in order to allow interpretation and facilitate comparability of published osteoarthritis studies. For the first time, the present study maps topographical variations in cartilage thickness, cartilage compressive properties and subchondral bone microarchitecture between the medial and lateral tibial compartment of normal growing rat knees (7 vs. 13 weeks). Thickness and compressive properties (aggregate modulus) of cartilage were determined and the subchondral bone was analyzed by micro-computed tomography. We found that articular cartilage thickness is initially homogenous in both compartments, but then differentiates during growth and maturation resulting in greater car...
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2010
Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the changes in structure and composition of articular cartilage. However, it is not fully known, what is the depth-wise change in two major components of the cartilage solid matrix, i.e., collagen and proteoglycans (PGs), during OA progression. Further, it is unknown how the depth-wise changes affect local tissue strains during compression. Our aim was to address these issues. Methods: Data from the previous microscopic and biochemical measurements of the collagen content, distribution and orientation, PG content and distribution, water content and histological grade of normal and degenerated human patellar articular cartilage (n ΒΌ 73) were reanalyzed in a depth-wise manner. Using this information, a composition-based finite element (FE) model was used to estimate tissue function solely based on its composition and structure. Results: The orientation angle of collagen fibrils in the superficial zone of cartilage was significantly less parallel to the surface (P < 0.05) in samples with early degeneration than in healthy samples. Similarly, PG content was reduced in the superficial zone in early OA (P < 0.05). However, collagen content decreased significantly only at the advanced stage of OA (P < 0.05). The composition-based FE model showed that under a constant stress, local tissue strains increased as OA progressed. Conclusion: For the first time, depth-wise point-by-point statistical comparisons of structure and composition of human articular cartilage were conducted. The present results indicated that early OA is primarily characterized by the changes in collagen orientation and PG content in the superficial zone, while collagen content does not change until OA has progressed to its late stage. Our simulation results suggest that impact loads in OA joint could create a risk for tissue failure and cell death.
Objective: Reduction of compressive stiffness of articular cartilage has been reported as one of the first signs of cartilage degeneration. For the measurement of in situ compressive stiffness, a hand-held indentation probe has recently been developed and baseline data for macroscopically normal knee joint cartilage were provided. However, the histological stage of degeneration of the measured cartilage was not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the in situ measured compressive stiffness, the histological stage of degeneration, and the biochemical composition of articular cartilage.