title: Complex and elementary histological scoring systems for articular cartilage repair.
abstract: The repair of articular cartilage defects is increasingly moving into the focus of experimental and clinical investigations. Histological analysis is the gold standard for a valid and objective evaluation of cartilaginous repair tissue and predominantly relies on the use of established scoring systems. In the past three decades, numerous elementary and complex scoring systems have been described and modified, including those of O'Driscoll, Pineda, Wakitani, Sellers and Fortier for entire defects as well as those according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS-I/II) for osteochondral tissue biopsies. Yet, this coexistence of different grading scales inconsistently addressing diverse parameters may impede comparability between reported study outcomes. Furthermore, validation of these histological scoring systems has only seldom been performed to date. The aim of this review is (1) to give a comprehensive overview and to compare the most important established histological scoring systems for articular cartilage repair, (2) to describe their specific advantages and pitfalls, and (3) to provide valid recommendations for their use in translational and clinical studies of articular cartilage repair.
authors: Center of Experimental Orthopaedics and Osteoarthritis Research, Saarland University and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Orth
authors: Center of Experimental Orthopaedics and Osteoarthritis Research, Saarland University, and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany. henning.madry@uks.eu.
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Madry
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012038:Regeneration; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014945:Wound Healing