SODIUM-PHOSPHATE CRYSTALS IN CHONDROMALACIC PATELLAR CARTILAGE

We report the finding of sodium- and phosphorus-based crystallisation in abnormal human articular cartilage, We prepared five chondromalacic , five osteoarthritic and four macroscopically normal specimens of pat ellar cartilage by a cryofracturing technique and examined them in a s canning electron microscope An energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis s ystem was used to identify the crystals, which were found in only thre e of the five chondromalacic specimens, Star-shaped crystals were seen either individually or in clusters in the matrix of the cartilage, Th ey consisted of sodium and phosphorus, and we have found no previous r eports of such findings, The calcified zone, the bone, and the articul ar surface were free from crystals.