Mechanical Properties of Subchondral Bone From Normal and Osteoarthrotic Human Femoral Heads

Background: Ultrapurified alginate (UPAL) gel implantation has been demonstrated as effective in cartilage repair for osteochondral defects; however, cell transplantation within UPAL gels would be required to treat larger defects. Hypothesis: The combination of UPAL gel and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) would enhance cartilage repair and subchondral bone repair for large osteochondral defects. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 104 osteochondral defects (1 defect per knee) of 52 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (26 defects per group): defects without any treatment (Defect group), defects treated using UPAL gel alone (UPAL group), defects treated using UPAL gel containing allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (UPAL-MSC group), and defects treated using UPAL gel containing BMAC (UPAL-BMAC group). At 4 and 16 weeks postoperatively, macroscopic and histologic evaluations and measurements of repaired subchondral bone volumes of reparative tissues were performed. Collagen orientation and mechanical properties of the reparative tissue were assessed at 16 weeks. Results: The defects in the UPAL-BMAC group were repaired with hyaline-like cartilage with well-organized collagen structures. The histologic scores at 4 weeks were significantly higher in the UPAL-BMAC group (16.9 ± 2.0) than in the Defect group (4.7 ± 1.9; P < .05), the UPAL group (10.0 ± 3.3; P < .05), and the UPAL-MSC group (12.2 ± 2.9; P < .05). At 16 weeks, the score in the UPAL-BMAC group (24.4 ± 1.7) was significantly higher than those in the Defect group (9.0 ± 3.7; P < .05), the UPAL group (14.2 ± 3.9; P < .05), and the UPAL-MSC group (16.3 ± 3.6; P < .05). At 4 and 16 weeks, the macroscopic evaluations were significantly superior in the UPAL-BMAC group compared with the other groups, and the values of repaired subchondral bone volumes in the UPAL-BMAC group were significantly higher than those in the Defect and UPAL groups. The mechanical properties of the reparative tissues were significantly better in the UPAL-BMAC group than in the other groups. Conclusion: The implantation of UPAL gel containing BMAC-enhanced hyaline-like cartilage repair and subchondral bone repair of osteochondral defects in a rabbit knee model. Clinical Relevance: These data support the potential clinical application of 1-step treatment for large osteochondral defects using biomaterial implantation with cell transplantation.

Download Full-text

Pregnancy and Lactation Impair Subchondral Bone Leading to Reduced Rat Supraspinatus Tendon-to-Bone Insertion Site Failure Properties

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4047629 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ashley K. Fung ◽

Snehal S. Shetye ◽

Yihan Li ◽

Yilu Zhou ◽

X. Sherry Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Bone Loss ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Bone Mineralization ◽

Insertion Site ◽

Supraspinatus Tendon ◽

Bone Microstructure ◽

Female Rats ◽

Pregnancy And Lactation ◽

Failure Properties

Abstract Pregnant women experience weight gain, gait changes, and biochemical fluctuations that impair joint function and alter the maternal skeleton. Hormonal changes increase pelvic ligament laxity in preparation for childbirth and affect peripheral joint laxity. Calcium demands also rise during pregnancy and lactation, resulting in reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and maternal bone loss. Altered tendon properties and bone loss during pregnancy and lactation may impact tendon insertion sites, such as rotator cuff tendons where insertion site ruptures are common. However, the effects of pregnancy and lactation at the tendon-to-bone interface have not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate supraspinatus tendon mechanical properties and insertion site microstructure during pregnancy, lactation, and postweaning recovery in female rats. We hypothesized that pregnancy and lactation would compromise supraspinatus tendon mechanical properties and subchondral bone microstructure. Female rats were divided into virgin, pregnancy, lactation, and recovery groups, and supraspinatus tendons were mechanically evaluated. Surprisingly, tendon mechanics was unaffected by pregnancy and lactation. However, tendon modulus decreased two-weeks postweaning. Additionally, tendons failed by bony avulsion at the insertion site, and the lactation group exhibited reduced failure properties corresponding to decreased subchondral bone mineralization. Lactation also resulted in dramatic bone loss at the epiphysis, but trabecular bone microarchitecture recovered postweaning. In conclusion, lactation following pregnancy impaired trabecular bone microstructure and subchondral bone mineralization, leading to reduced supraspinatus tendon-to-bone insertion site failure properties. These findings will contribute toward understanding the pathogenesis of tendon-to-bone disorders.

Download Full-text

Properties of Cartilage–Subchondral Bone Junctions: A Narrative Review with Specific Focus on the Growth Plate

Cartilage ◽

10.1177/1947603520924776 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 194760352092477

Author(s):

Masumeh Kazemi ◽

John Leicester Williams

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Articular Cartilage ◽

Growth Plate ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Bone Growth ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Bimaterial Interface ◽

Bone Interface ◽

Growth Plate Cartilage ◽

Specific Focus

Objective The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize what is currently known about the structural, chemical, and mechanical properties of cartilage-bone interfaces, which provide tissue integrity across a bimaterial interface of 2 very different structural materials. Maintaining these mechanical interfaces is a key factor for normal bone growth and articular cartilage function and maintenance. Materials and Methods A comprehensive search was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed/Medline with a specific focus on the growth plate cartilage–subchondral bone interface. All original articles, reviews in journals, and book chapters were considered. Following a review of the overall structural and functional characteristics of the physis, the literature on histological studies of both articular and growth plate chondro-osseous junctions is briefly reviewed. Next the literature on biochemical properties of these interfaces is reviewed, specifically the literature on elemental analyses across the cartilage–subchondral bone junctions. The literature on biomechanical studies of these junctions at the articular and physeal interfaces is also reviewed and compared. Results Unlike the interface between articular cartilage and bone, growth plate cartilage has 2 chondro-osseous junctions. The reserve zone of the mature growth plate is intimately connected to a plate of subchondral bone on the epiphyseal side. This interface resembles that between the subchondral bone and articular cartilage, although much less is known about its makeup and formation. Conclusion There is a notably paucity of information available on the structural and mechanical properties of reserve zone–subchondral epiphyseal bone interface. This review reveals that further studies are needed on the microstructural and mechanical properties of chondro-osseous junction with the reserve zone.

Download Full-text

Subchondral bone deterioration in femoral heads in patients with osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia: A case–control study

Journal of Orthopaedic Translation ◽

10.1016/j.jot.2019.10.014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 190-197

Author(s):

Guangyi Li ◽

Lianzhi Chen ◽

Qiujian Zheng ◽

Yuanchen Ma ◽

Changqing Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Subchondral Bone ◽

Hip Dysplasia ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Femoral Heads ◽

Control Study

Download Full-text

Subchondral Bone Microarchitectural and Mineral Properties and Expression of Key Degradative Proteinases by Chondrocytes in Human Hip Osteoarthritis

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9111593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1593

Author(s):

Yunfei Li ◽

Yulia Liem ◽

Zaitunnatakhin Zamli ◽

Niall Sullivan ◽

Enrico Dall’Ara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Subchondral Bone ◽

Bone Microarchitecture ◽

Hip Osteoarthritis ◽

Cartilage Degradation ◽

Phenotypic Change ◽

Bone Properties ◽

Femoral Heads ◽

Subchondral Plate ◽

Degradative Enzymes ◽

Advanced Stages

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of key degradative enzymes by chondrocytes and the microarchitectural and mineral properties of subchondral bone across different stages of cartilage degradation in human hip osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Osteochondral samples at different stages of cartilage degradation were collected from 16 femoral heads with OA. Osteochondral samples with normal cartilage were collected from seven femoral heads with osteoporosis. Microcomputed tomography was used for the investigation of subchondral bone microarchitecture and mineral densities. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression and distribution of MMP13 and ADAMTS4 in cartilage. Results: The microarchitecture and mineral properties of the subchondral plate and trabecular bone in OA varied with the severity of the degradation of the overlying cartilage. Chondrocytes expressing MMP13 and ADAMTS4 are mainly located in the upper zone(s) of cartilage regardless of the histopathological grades. The zonal expression of these enzymes in OA (i.e., the percentage of positive cells in the superficial, middle, and deep zones), rather than their overall expression (the percentage of positive cells in the full thickness of the cartilage), exhibited significant variation in relation to the severity of cartilage degradation. The associations between the subchondral bone properties and zonal and overall expression of these enzymes in the cartilage were generally weak or nonsignificant. Conclusions: Phenotypic changes in chondrocytes and remodelling of subchondral bone proceed at different rates throughout the process of cartilage degradation. Biological influences are more important for cartilage degradation at early stages, while biomechanical damage to the compromised tissue may outrun the phenotypic change of chondrocytes and is critical in the advanced stages.

Download Full-text

Can the Bone Mineral Density of the Non-fractured Contralateral Hip Predict Medial Migration of Helical Blade-type Lag Screws in Osteoporotic Hip Fractures?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-94889/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Suenghwan Jo ◽

Hyun Jun Lee ◽

Sang Hong Lee ◽

Je Hong Ryu ◽

Ba Rom Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Femoral Head ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Lag Screw ◽

Medial Migration ◽

Femoral Heads ◽

Helical Blade ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background: In this study, we performed a biomechanical tests on the osteoporotic femoral heads to validate whether the bone mineral density (BMD) measured at the non-fractured contralateral hip can predict the BMD and potential medial migration of helical blade-type lag screws on the fractured femoral head.Methods: Twenty-four osteoporotic femoral heads were retrieved from patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing hip arthroplasty. The patients had their BMD measured from the contralateral hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry prior to surgery. The BMD of the retrieved femoral heads was measured using micro-computed tomography. The mechanical properties for the medial migration of lag screw were measured by performing an uniaxial compression test on the femoral head using a helical blade-type lag screw. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation among the BMDs of the non-fractured contralateral hip and the retrieved femoral head and the mechanical properties of the fractured femoral head.Results: The mean BMD of the contralateral hip was 0.60±0.14 g/cm2 in the neck region and 0.63±0.15 g/cm2 in the total proximal femur. The mean BMD of the fractured femoral head was 463.3±48.05 mg HA/cm3. The mechanical properties of the fractured femoral head were measured to be 0.92 kN for the maximum compressive load and 14.50±5.48 kN for the accumulated compression load. In the analysis of the correlation among the parameters, we found no correlation between the BMD of the non-fractured contralateral hip and the mechanical properties of the fractured femoral head. In addition, we observed no correlation between the BMD of the fractured femoral head and that of the contralateral hip.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the BMD of the contralateral hip does not reflect the BMD or the mechanical properties of the fractured femoral head. Therefore, helical blade-type lag screw migration may not be predicted from the BMD of the non-fractured contralateral hip.

Download Full-text

Mapping local mechanical properties of human healthy and osteoporotic femoral heads

Materialia ◽

10.1016/j.mtla.2021.101229 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101229

Author(s):

Federica Buccino ◽

Luigi Zagra ◽

Paolo Savadori ◽

Alessandro Galluzzo ◽

Chiara Colombo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Femoral Heads

Download Full-text

A Study of Mechanical Properties of Human Femoral Heads Using Nanoindentation

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.126-128.957 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 126-128 ◽

pp. 957-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chih Ling Lin ◽

Han Huang ◽

Bronwen W. Cribb ◽

Anthony Russell

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Replacement Surgery ◽

Hip Replacement Surgery ◽

Reduced Modulus ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Femoral Heads ◽

Group A ◽

Trabecular Bones ◽

Male Patients ◽

Group B

Human bone fracture associated with osteoporosis was hypothesized to be related to the alteration of mechanical properties in bones. In this work, cortical and trabecular bones from human femoral heads were studied. Bone samples of eight female and four male patients, with ages varying from 37 to 93 years, were collected from total hip replacement surgery. Reduced modulus (Er) and hardness (H) of osteons, interstitial lamellae and trabeculae were characterized by nanoindentation. The results showed both the reduced modulus and hardness of the interstitial lamellae were significant higher than those of osteons and trabeculae. Though there was no significant difference in microstructures in the Group A (age < 60 years) and B (age > 60 years), the Group B bones demonstrated to be stiffer.

Download Full-text