OBJECTIVE: Improved staging of cartilage degeneration is required, particularly during the early stages. We correlated mechanical properties with histological and macroscopic findings. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cartilage samples were obtained during total knee arthroplasty. Two adjacent plugs were harvested--one for histological classification and one for macroscopic and biomechanical purposes. Dynamic impact testing was performed; normal stress, dissipated energy (∆E), tangent modulus and stiffness were evaluated. RESULTS: Samples were classified according to six categories of the ICRS histological scale. Mechanical characteristics revealing significant differences between the groups (p < 0.01) were specific damping and related absolute ∆E. A significant correlation was found between the macroscopic score and specific damping, as well as absolute and relative ∆E (p < 0.01). A strong relation was revealed between relative ∆E and cartilage thickness (p < 0.001; R (2) = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Only ∆E correlated with the condition of the cartilage--the value increased with decreasing quality-and is the most suitable characteristic. This change appears substantial in initial stages of cartilage deterioration.

• MeSH
• artróza kolenních kloubů patologie   patofyziologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• kloubní chrupavka patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mechanický stres MeSH
• pevnost v tlaku MeSH
• pružnost MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH