CHANGES IN MEAN TRABECULAR ORIENTATION IN THE MEDIAL CONDYLE OF THE PROXIMAL TIBIA IN OSTEOARTHRITIS

In osteoarthritis of the knee, degenerative changes occur in the artic ular cartilage and underlying subchondral bone, particularly of the me dial tibial condyle. Cancellous bone sclerosis that accompanies osteoa rthritis is not only the result of an increase in bone volume fraction but also a change in trabecular structure. In a comparison with age-m atched controls (n = 4), osteoarthritis (n = 11) demonstrated a signif icant (P less than or equal to 0.05) increase in bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness. Overall trabecular orientation in the osteoa rthritic group was more vertical or perpendicular to the articular sur face than the control group (P less than or equal to 0.05) especially in the trabeculae of the cancellous bone layer closest to the articula r surface. These alterations in trabecular bone structure could have s ignificant consequences for the mechanical properties of osteoarthriti c bone.