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Software-Assisted Quantitative Measurement of Osteoarthritic Subchondral Bone Thickness
Published on: March 18, 2022
Micro-CT quantification of subchondral endplate changes in intervertebral disc degeneration
J P H J Rutges1, O P Jagt van der, F C Oner
1Dept. Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.rutges@umcutrecht.nl
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
|October 19, 2010
Summary
Subchondral bone in degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) becomes denser, particularly at the endplate. This structural change may impair nutrient diffusion, potentially accelerating IVD degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Spinal research
- Orthopedics
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Intervertebral disc (IVD) health relies on nutrient supply from subchondral bone, similar to joint cartilage.
- Subchondral bone changes are linked to osteoarthritis (OA) progression in joints, but not previously quantified in IVD degeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify subchondral bone alterations at various stages of IVD degeneration using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).
Main Methods:
- Autopsy-obtained IVDs were micro-CT scanned and graded by Thompson score.
- Trabecular bone parameters including bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (TrTh), and connectivity density (CD) were measured in endplate and vertebral bone volumes of interest (VOIs).
Main Results:
- Increased BV/TV and TrTh were observed in endplate VOIs of IVDs with higher degeneration scores.
- These parameters remained stable or decreased in vertebral VOIs, indicating localized endplate changes.
Conclusions:
- Degenerated IVDs exhibit a denser subchondral endplate structure, suggesting compromised nutrient and gas diffusion.
- Early changes in subchondral endplate bone are associated with mild IVD degeneration (Grade II).
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