title: Is there a correlation between biophotonical, biochemical, histological, and visual changes in the cartilage of osteoarthritic knee-joints?
abstract: The aim of this study was to detect characteristic structural changes in the cartilage composition of osteoarthritis (OA), hereby improving the arthroscopic identification of cartilage pathology by the use of a non-destructive technique - NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy). 682 cartilage samples out of 25 knees with OA were classified visually, using the ICRS system, biophotonically, histologically (n = 66), using the Score of Mankin and the Score of Otte, and biochemically (n = 616), determining the content of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and hydroxyproline (HP). Significant correlations were found between biophotonical, histological, biochemical and visual characteristics of cartilage lesions. NIRS values corresponded to the content of GAG, HP and to the Score of Mankin and Otte. The data show that changes in the composition and structure of articular cartilage influence the optical properties and can be measured objectively by NIRS. The ease of use during arthroscopy, the quick response and the non-destructive nature of NIRS make it a promising addition to the assessment of disease intervention in OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie Tatjana
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Stumpfe
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany ; Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Trauma Centre Halle (Saale), Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia Karin
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pester
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany ; Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Trauma Centre Halle (Saale), Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marintschev
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany ; Arthrospec GmbH, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Plettenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aurich
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany ; Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Trauma Centre Halle (Saale), Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunther Olaf
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Hofmann
keywords: GAG; Mankin score; NIRS; cartilage; hydroxyproline; osteoarthritis