Influence of meniscus on cartilage and subchondral bone features of knees from older individuals: A cadaver study

Abstract

ObjectiveCartilage and subchondral bone form a functional unit. Here, we aimed to examine the effect of meniscus coverage on the characteristics of this unit in knees of older individuals.MethodsWe assessed the hyaline cartilage, subchondral cortical plate (SCP), and subchondral trabecular bone in areas covered or uncovered by the meniscus from normal cadaver knees (without degeneration). Bone cores harvested from the medial tibial plateau at locations uncovered (central), partially covered (posterior), and completely covered (peripheral) by the meniscus were imaged by micro-CT. The following were measured on images: cartilage volume (Cart.Vol, mm3) and thickness (Cart.Th, mm); SCP thickness (SCP.Th, μm) and porosity (SCP.Por, %); bone volume to total volume fraction (BV/TV, %); trabecular thickness (Tb.Th, μm), spacing (Tb.Sp, μm), and number (Tb.N, 1/mm); structure model index (SMI); trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf); and degree of anisotropy (DA).ResultsAmong the 28 specimens studied (18 females) from individuals with mean age 82.8±10.2 years, cartilage and SCP were thicker at the central site uncovered by the meniscus than the posterior and peripheral sites, and Cart.Vol was greater. SCP.Por was highest in posterior samples. In the upper 1–5 mm of subchondral bone, central samples were characterized by higher values for BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and connectivity (Tb.Pf), a more plate-like trabecular structure and lower anisotropy than with other samples. Deeper down, at 6–10 mm, the differences were slightly higher for Tb.Th centrally, DA peripherally and SMI posteriorly.ConclusionsThe coverage or not by meniscus in the knee of older individuals is significantly associated with Cart.Th, SCP.Th, SCP.Por and trabecular microarchitectural parameters in the most superficial 5 mm and to a lesser extent the deepest area of subchondral trabecular bone. These results suggest an effect of differences in local loading conditions. In subchondral bone uncovered by the meniscus, the trabecular architecture resembles that of highly loaded areas.

Microcracks in subchondral bone plate is linked to less cartilage damage

“…Bone biopsies used in the present study were always taken at the same site in the knee (Supplemental Figure 1A). Collection of the samples used in this study was previously described [33].…”

Tibial cartilage, subchondral bone plate and trabecular bone microarchitecture in varus‐ and valgus‐osteoarthritis versus controls

“…10,[19][20][21] While historically used for the characterization of bone microarchitecture, [22][23][24][25] there is growing interest in using micro-CT for the examination of human tibial articular cartilage with contrast agents 20,21,[26][27][28] and without. 19,29,30 While studies have separately examined cartilage thickness, bone microarchitecture or joint alignment, to the best of our knowledge, these examinations have never been performed altogether in the same cohort. Moreover, comparisons with control subjects in the subchondral trabecular bone microarchitecture are conflicting and did not consider the influence of joint alignment.…”

Sex, but not age and bone mass index positively impact on the development of osteochondral micro‐defects and the accompanying cellular alterations during osteoarthritis progression

“…25 The above methodology provided sufficient number of histological specimens, variety of OA Mankin grading and included the characteristic features of OA tissue severity. 26 The histological and immunohistochemical processing was previously described. 22,23 The specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for 24-36 h, decalcified in neutral Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 6-8 weeks at room temperature, and embedded in paraffin blocks.…”