title: Bone density of the human talus does not increase with the cartilage degeneration score.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, disabling condition of synovial joints that can eventually lead to reduced, or lost, mobility. It is characterized by both articular cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone changes. However, a cause-and-effect relationship between the two tissues remains controversial. Increased subchondral bone density has been associated with early degenerative changes in the cartilage of knee, hip, and finger joints-joints in which progressive changes to OA are common. In contrast, the ankle joint is known to exhibit early cartilage changes, but is not prone to the development of OA. In the present study, it was found that cartilage degeneration on the talus is not associated with an increase in bone density, as assessed through peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. cmuehleman@rushu.rush.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muehleman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berzins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koepp
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eger
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kuettner
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sumner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013628:Talus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods