Peng, Zhongxiao, Fasiolo, Mark, and Hart, Kane (2009) Investigation into changes in collagen structure of articular cartilage and wear particles of knee joints for osteoarthritic wear assessment. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 12 (3). pp. 143-152.

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Abstract

Our bodies deteriorate from wear and tear processes, which give rise to ache and pain. This degenerative process is medically referred to as osteoarthritis (OA) and it is estimated to affect a large portion of the population at some stage in their life. There is a need for research into new and improved techniques that might be developed into a schema to aid in the early diagnosis and prognosis of a patient's condition. This can be achieved by studying the morphology of the collagen fibers in the wear particles generated to gain an insight into the osteoarthritic condition exhibited by the joint. The study has been conducted in three phases. Firstly, an animal model has been used to generate samples of cartilage and wear particles for the study. A suitable staining technique has then been developed that allows the three-dimensional visualization and quantitative analysis of the structure of the collagen matrix of sheep cartilage and in wear particles. Finally, correlation of the changes in the collagen matrix as per OA severity has been studied. The study has identified key numerical parameters to characterize distinctive wear features of the cartilage and wear debris. A good correlation of the wear features of the cartilage and wear particle samples has been found. The positive results attained by this study suggest that with the aid of further research and development, it is distinctly possible to develop improved diagnostic procedures for clinical osteoarthritic assessment.

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