title: Prevalence, size and distribution of microdamage in the human otic capsule.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Age-dependent microdamage (MDx) accumulates excessively in human perilabyrinthine bone, where the bone turnover is almost absent. This may have pathological implications for bone-specific disorders such as otosclerosis. The role of MDx accumulation is discussed from an osteodynamic perspective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Bone remodelling is highly inhibited within the otic capsule compared with the rest of the skeleton. Consequently excessive accumulation of age-dependent capsular MDx is expected. This study describes the prevalence, size and topographical distribution of MDx in the human otic capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 241 undecalcified human temporal bones were examined. Bulk staining and the cutting-grinding technique were used to separate in vivo MDx from microcrack artefacts induced post mortem by the milling procedure. Quantitative data were obtained by fluorescence microscopy by counting and measuring and by the use of stereology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microcracks accumulated continuously and extensively in the human otic capsule throughout life. Both the number and total length of MDx were higher close to the inner ear space as compared with the capsular periphery. The mean length of the MDx remained constant with age. There was no statistically significant sex difference.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery , Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Frisch
authors: Sune Land
authors: SL
authors: Bloch
authors: Mads Sølvsten
authors: MS
authors: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bone remodelling; bone resorption; bulk staining; microcracks; microfissures; osteocyte death; osteoprotegerin; temporal bone; undecalcified