DISTRIBUTION OF DEGENERATIVE CHANGES OF T HE HUMAN PATELLA IN RELATION TO THE INDIVIDUAL SUBCHONDRAL MINERALIZATION

According to Pauwels and Kummer the distribution of the subchondral mi neralisation can be taken as a measure of the long-term mechanical loa ding in the joints. Based on a previous study concerning the density d istribution of the subchondral bone of the human patella, these result s were compared in the following paper with the macroscopically visibl e cartilage lesions. Degenerative changes on the lateral facet of the patella coincide with regions of high bone mineralisation, those on th e ''odd facet'' on the other hand with areas of low subchondral densit y. The cartilage lesions on the lateral facet are seen as being due to high and constant mechanical stress, those on the ''odd facet'' to sh ort infrequent stress-peaks.