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Correlation of dynamic impact testing, histopathology and visual macroscopic assessment in human osteoarthritic cartilage

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Abstract

Objective

Improved staging of cartilage degeneration is required, particularly during the early stages. We correlated mechanical properties with histological and macroscopic findings.

Methods

One hundred and twenty cartilage samples were obtained during total knee arthroplasty. Two adjacent plugs were harvested—one for histological classification and one for macroscopic and biomechanical purposes. Dynamic impact testing was performed; normal stress, dissipated energy (∆E), tangent modulus and stiffness were evaluated.

Results

Samples were classified according to six categories of the ICRS histological scale. Mechanical characteristics revealing significant differences between the groups (p < 0.01) were specific damping and related absolute ∆E. A significant correlation was found between the macroscopic score and specific damping, as well as absolute and relative ∆E (p < 0.01). A strong relation was revealed between relative ∆E and cartilage thickness (p < 0.001; R 2 = 0.69).

Conclusions

Only ∆E correlated with the condition of the cartilage—the value increased with decreasing quality—and is the most suitable characteristic. This change appears substantial in initial stages of cartilage deterioration.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff of the Institute of Pathological Anatomy for histological staining and the staff of the International Laser Centre for help with biomechanical testing. We would also like to thank the staff of the Orthopaedic Clinic where the total knee joint replacements were performed. Special thanks to the staff of the Department of Biophysics for their excellent cooperation.

Role of the funding source

This work was supported by Grants FI IM4/205 and FT TA5/020 from the Ministry of Industry of the Czech Republic.

Conflict of interest

There were no financial or personal relationships with other people or organisations that could influence our work and conclusions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. II. Orthopaedic Clinic, University Hospital Motol, Charles University in Prague, V Úvalu 84, 15006, Prague 5, Czech Republic

    Petr Kos, Milan Handl, Jakub Kautzner, Tomáš Trč & Martin Hanus

  2. Department of Biophysics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Ferdinand Varga & Evžen Amler

  3. Department of Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Václav Chudáček

  4. International Laser Centre, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Milan Držík

  5. Institute of Pathological Anatomy 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Ctibor Povýšil

Authors
  1. Petr Kos
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  2. Ferdinand Varga
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  3. Milan Handl
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  7. Ctibor Povýšil
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  8. Tomáš Trč
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  10. Martin Hanus
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Correspondence to Petr Kos.

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Kos, P., Varga, F., Handl, M. et al. Correlation of dynamic impact testing, histopathology and visual macroscopic assessment in human osteoarthritic cartilage. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 35, 1733–1739 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1195-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1195-1

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