title: In vitro electro-mechanical characterization of human knee articular cartilage of different degeneration levels: a comparison with ICRS and Mankin scores.
abstract: In the present study, the electro-mechanical properties of human knee articular cartilage were measured in vitro. An arthroscopic measurement tool was used to measure streaming potential integral (SPI), after which creep indentation tests were performed. Additionally, degradation level of the tissue was determined in accordance with the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS score), and hematoxylin/eosin and safranin O staining were performed to determine the Mankin score. Mechanical test results were evaluated both analytically and by means of a finite-element-optimized parameter identification procedure. The SPI was then correlated with poroelastic E modulus (r=0.563, p<0.008, n=22), natural logarithm of hydraulic permeability (r=0.374, p<0.095, n=22) and cartilage degeneration scores (ICRS and Mankin) (r=-0.749, p<0.000, n=22 and r=-0.409, p<0.059, n=22 respectively).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany. abedian.reza@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abedian
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willbold
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hurschler
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged