Micromorphological assessment of bone tissue remodeling in various hip degeneration conditions

The reorganization of bone tissue is closely associated with its metabolism and changes in its internal structure. Metabolism of the bone, which results from the simultaneous processes of resorption and formation of new bone tissue, may depend on the presence and type of arthritis.

The objective of the study was to assess, based on the morphological features and mineral composition of bone tissue, changes in the femoral head in various types of hip joint degeneration.

The study group consisted of 21 patients surgically treated for hip joint degeneration. They included 17 women, aged 30-70 years (mean age 52.5 years), and 4 men, aged 38-51 (mean age 48.5 years). The assessment of the morphological condition of the bone and the mineral composition of bone tissue took into account quantitative and qualitative relationships among the mineral components and bone matrix. The structure of spongious bone tissue was analyzed in histological studies, with special attention paid to osteogenesis and osteoclastic processes and the advancement of degeneration.

Three main types of degenerative changes in bone tissue of the examined femoral head were recognized: osteoporosis with a prevalence of coarse-fiber bone tissue and decreased osteogenic activity; osteolysis with few osteogenesis centers; and intensified reorganization of bone tissue. In more than half of the examined samples, coarse-fiber bone tissue was replaced by newly formed bone tissue. We observed bone resorption and osteogenesis, which indicate normal homeostasis of the bone tissue. Uneven saturation of spongious bone with mineral components was found. The content of organic and inorganic bone components measured with Ca : P and C : Ca + P ratios had similar values in all types of changes. Only the bone with intense osteolysis contained a smaller quantity of carbon (4.96-8.13%).

Our observations indicate an intense adaptive reorganization of bone tissue depending on external and internal factors, including biomechanical condition.