Micro CT analysis of the subarticular bone structure in the area of the talar trochlea

Abstract

PurposeCertain regions of the talar trochlea are recognized as exhibiting varying cartilage thickness and degrees of subchondral bone mineralization. These changes have been attributed to the long-term loading history. For the current study, we accepted the hypothesis that stress-induced alterations of the joint surface include not only varying degrees of subchondral lamellar mineralization, but also structural changes of the subarticular cancellous bone.MethodsIn order to examine the structure of the subarticular cancellous bone, ten formalin-fixed talar trochleae were analyzed using micro CT. Sixteen measurement zones were defined and then evaluated in five layers each of 1-mm thickness, enabling assessment of the cancellous architecture extending 5 mm below the trochlear surface using numerical and structural parameters.ResultsAs with mineralization patterns in the subchondral lamella, large variation was observed regarding bone volume, trabecular quantity, thickness, and spacing, as well as for structure model index and degree of anisotropy, depending on localization. In addition, like previous reports examining mineralization of the subchondral lamella, two distinct groups could be identified as “bicentric” or “monocentric”.ConclusionsThese results show that structural tissue adaptation probably due to loading history is also evident within the subarticular cancellous bone.

Trabecular and cortical bone structure of the talus and distal tibia in Pan and Homo

“…Previous analyses have assessed the functional significance of trabecular and cortical bone structure of the ankle in humans (talus: Athavale, Joshi, & Joshi, ; Ebraheim, Sabry, & Nadim, ; Nowakowski, Deyhle, Zander, Leumann, & Müller‐Gerbl, ; Pal & Routal, ; Schiff et al, ; Sinha, ; Takechi, Ito, Takada, & Nakayama, ; talus and distal tibia: Hvid, Rasmussen, Jensen, & Nielsen, ), and several studies have adopted a comparative approach across different taxa (talus: DeSilva & Devlin, ; Hérbert, Lebrun, & Marivaux, ; Su, ; Su & Carlson, ; Su, Wallace, & Nakatsukasa, ; tibia: Barak, Lieberman, Raichlen et al, 2013; Carlson, Chirchir, & Patel, ; Su, ). DeSilva and Devlin () found interspecific differences in regional patterning of trabecular structure across four quadrants of the talar body but were unable to attribute these differences to locomotor mode and a biomechanical explanation remains unclear.…”

Osteoarthritis alters the patellar bones subchondral trabecular architecture

“…Now it is possible to determine the microarchitecture of trabecular bone in a direct manner, saving the time consuming sectioning process and the inaccuracy of assumptions . In addition to the common differences in trabecular architecture as function of anatomic position, loading direction, and load accumulation over time, precise correlations to individual long‐term load intake are described …”