Calcified cartilage, subchondral and cancellous bone morphometry within the knee of normal subjects

Abstract

This study examined calcified cartilage and bone structure in the development of age-related cartilage changes in the knee. Image analysis was used to examine the calcified cartilage and bone structure. There was a significant decrease in bone volume fraction with increasing age in the knee except for the patella. The study found the cancellous network of the patella to be markedly different from other regions of the knee. The bone volume of the patella is significantly higher and fails to show a decrease with age. A correlation exists between subchondral bone and both the volume and the trabecular thickness of the adjacent cancellous network. A correlation between calcified cartilage thickness and the bone volume and the trabecular thickness of the adjacent cancellous network exists only in the patella. It is proposed that this relationship is an adaptation in dealing with high shear forces in the patello femoral joint.