Bone Abstracts

The aim was to explore whether osteoporosis in humans influences the morphological status of the cartilage and subchondral bone, and relationship between macroscopic aspect of the articular surface and the rate of microscopic changes of both the cartilage and the subchondral bone. Femoral heads were obtained from 68 patients with osteoporosis (OP) and hip OA (OP, n=56; OA, n=12) during hip surgery. Evaluation of the cartilage degeneration was done by Mankin grading system while bone alterations were evaluated using micro-CT scanning system. Total Mankin score according the cartilage degeneration differed between all OP specimens. In OP with preserved cartilage, we observed increased thickness of subchondral cortical bone (SCB) due to increased bone remodeling whereas subchondral trabecular bone (STB) parameters were slightly decreased. In OP with severe rate of cartilage damage we found thinning of SCB and significant decrease in BV/TV and trabecular parameters. In OA SCB and STB were thicker. Thinning of SCB in OP was related to the progression of cartilage degeneration what could implicate early-stage OA. Severe cartilage degeneration and intensive activities in SCB in OP and OA suggested that progression of cartilage damage was influenced by altered activities in SCB.