Summary
In osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis the hardness of the subchondral bone of the medial tibial plateau is lower than in normals. In order to further analyse this study of the morphologic characteristics in bone from the mentioned region was carried out in 22 normals, 14 osteoarthritis and 12 rheumatoid arthritis. Specimens from these groups were subjected to a radiologic assay, a light microscopic investigation and an evaluation of the occurrence of intraosseous lipids. The normals showed a remarkable integrity of the subchondral trabecular network with advancing age only with slight osteoporosis and occasional sclerosis. In osteoarthritis there were osteoporosis, osteolysis, sclerosis and osteophytes all in good correlation to the grade of osteoarthritis present. In rheumatoid arthritis there were areas of rarefaction, fractures of the trabeculae, sclerosis and invasion of granulation tissue. The radiologic appearance corresponded well with the morphologic observation. No abnormal presence of lipids was encountered. This investigation supports the concept that the hardness of the subchondral bone of the medial tibial plateau much depends on the morphologic structure of the bone.
Zusammenfassung
Die Härte im subchondralen Knochen des medialen Tibiakondyls ist viel höher in normalem Zustand verglichen mit der bei Arthrosis deformans und rheumatoider Arthritis. Diese Verhältnisse sind analysiert gegen den Hintergrund von morphologischen Veränderungen in Präparaten der Normalfälle und solchen bei Arthrosis deformans und rheumatoider Arthritis mit radiologischen, mikroskopischen und lipidchemischen Methoden. Die Untersuchungen zeigen 12 Normalfälle, 14 Arthrosis deformans-Fälle und 12 Rheumatoide Arthritis-Fälle. Die Normalfälle haben eine offenbare Integrität des subchondralen Trabekelsystems gezeigt. Mit steigendem Alter waren nur mäßige Osteoporosis und Sklerosis sichtbar. Bei der Arthrosis deformans waren in guter Korrelation mit dem Grad der Arthrosis nach Collins Osteoporosis, Osteolysis, Sklerosis und Osteophyten sichtbar. Bei rheumatoider Arthritis waren Cysten, trabekuläre Frakturen, Sklerosis und Invasion von Granulationsgewebe sichtbar. Die röntgenologischen Befunde haben wohl mit den morphologischen Verteilungen übereinzustimmen. Kein abnormes Vorkommen von Lipiden wurde beobachtet. Diese Untersuchungen zeigen, daß die Härte im subchondralen Knochen sehr abhängig von der morphologischen Struktur des Knochens ist.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, C. W.: A histochemical method for the simultaneous demonstration of normal and degenerating myelin. J. Path. Bact. 77, 649–650 (1959)
American Rheumatism Association. Diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. 1958 revision. Ann. rheum. Dis. 1849, 1958
Behrens, J. C., Walker, T. S., Shoji, H.: Variations in strength and structure of cancellous bone at the knee. J. Biomech. 7, 201–207 (1974)
Bergström, W. H., Bell, E. H.: The relationship of sodium and potassium in bone. J. biol. Chem. 206, 711–733 (1954)
Carlström, D.: Microhardness majorment on single Haversian systems in bone 1954. Experientia (Basel) 10, 171–172 (1954)
Clausen, F. P., Dabelsteen, E.: Increase in sensitivity of the rhodamine B method for keratinization by the use of fluorescent light. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 77, 169–171 (1969)
Collins, D. H.: The pathology of articular and spinal diseases. London: E. Arnold 1949
Davies, D. V.: Ageing changes in joints. In: Structural aspects of bone (ed. G. Bourne), pp. 21–37. London: Pitman Medical Publishing Co. 1961
Fullmer, H. M.: Histochemical studies of mineralized tissues. Ann. Histochim. 11, 369–374 (1966)
Gardner, D. L.: The pathology of rheumatoid arthritis. London: E. Arnold 1972
Goldie, I.: Pathomorphologic features in original and regenerated synovial tissues after synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin. Orthop. 77, 295–304 (1971)
Goldie, I., Heyden, G.: Unpublished data, 1973
Heyden, G., Magnusson, B., Arwill, T.: Histochemical study of rhodamine B affinity in oral tissues of the mouse. Scand. J. dent. Res. 80, 40–46 (1972)
Ingervall, B., Freden, H., Heyden, G.: A histochemical study of the lipid content of rat alveolar bone after traumatic loading of the teeth. Scand. J. dent. Res. 80, 453–456 (1972)
Lereim, P., Goldie, I., Dahlberg, E.: Hardness of the subchondral bone of the tibial condyles in the normal state and in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Acta orthop. scand. 45, 614–627 (1974a)
Lereim, P., Langeland, N., Romanus, B., Petersen, J. E., Goldie, I.: A biochemical analysis of subchondral bone of the medial tibial condyle in the normal state and in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Acta orthop. scand. To be published (1974b)
Mills, K.: Pathology of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis. J. Bone Jt Surg. 52-B, 746–756 (1970)
Robinson, R. A., Elliot, S. R.: The water content of bone. I. The mass of water in organic crystals, organic matrix and CO2 space components in a unit volume of dog bone. J. Bone Jt Surg. 39-A, 167–175 (1957)
Sokoloff, L.: In: Arthritis and allied conditions (ed. J. L. Hollander), 7th Ed., pp. 187–210, 849–869. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger 1966
Sokoloff, L.: The biology of degenerative joint disease. Chicago-London: The university of Chicago Press 1969
Strandh, I., Norlén, H.: Distribution per volume bone tissue of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen from individuals of varying ages as compared with distribution per unit weight. Acta orthop. scand. 35, 257–267 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lereim, P., Goldie, I.F. Relationship between morphologic features and hardness of the subchondral bone of the medial tibial condyle in the normal state and in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arch orthop Unfall-Chir 81, 1–11 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417022
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00417022