Subchondral Bone Relative Area and Density in Human Osteoarthritic Femoral Heads Assessed with Micro-CT before and after Mechanical Embedding of the Innovative Multi-Spiked Connecting Scaffold for Resurfacing THA Endoprostheses: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The multi-spiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) prototype is the essential innovation in the fixation of components of resurfacing total hip arthroplasty (THRA) endoprostheses in the subchondral trabecular bone. We conducted the computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) assessment of the subchondral trabecular bone microarchitecture before and after the MSC-Scaffold embedding in femoral heads removed during long-stem endoprosthesis total hip arthroplasty (THA) of different bone densities from 4 patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The embedding of the MSC-Scaffold in subchondral trabecular bone causes the change in its relative area (BA/TA, bone area/total area ratio) ranged from 18.2% to 24.7% (translating to the calculated density ρB relative change 11.1–14.4%, and the compressive strength S relative change 75.3–122.7%) regardless of its initial density (before the MSC-Scaffold embedding). The densification of the trabecular microarchitecture of subchondral trabecular bone due to the MSC-Scaffold initial embedding gradually decreases with the increasing distance from the apexes of the MSC-Scaffold’s spikes while the spatial extent of this subchondral trabecular bone densification ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 mm (which is about half the height of the MSC-Scaffold’s spikes). It may be suggested, despite the limited number of examined femoral heads, that: (1) the magnitude of the effect of the MSC-Scaffold embedding on subchondral trabecular bone densification may be a factor contributing to the maintenance of the MSC-Scaffold also for decreased initial bone density values, (2) the deeper this effect of the subchondral trabecular bone densification, the better strength of subchondral trabecular bone, and as consequence, the better post-operative embedding of the MSC-Scaffold in the bone should be expected.

Spatial links between subchondral bone architectural features and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritic joints

“…Such an approach may lead to the development of predictive tools for early OA diagnosis in clinics. Moreover, investigating regional features of bone microstructure would provide more detail about the anatomy of the femoral head which would be useful for surgical interventions 26 , 27 .…”

Multiscale Evaluation of Jaw Geometry Reproduction Obtained Via the Use of Selected Orthodontic Materials in Dental Implants and Orthodontics—In Vitro Case Study

“…During the examination, a series of images were taken at different angular positions to obtain a spatial image [53]. The study used a micro-CT device, which allows for data with better resolution than that under commonly used medical CT scanners [54]. Based on the volumetric image (after a thoroughly prepared calibration [55]), it becomes possible to analyze both the geometric deformation of surfaces under examination and the reproduction accuracy shape of the dentition by means of a plaster material.…”