Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 63-67

Journal: Joint Bone Spine

Volume number: 83

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 1297-319X

eISSN: 1778-7254

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2015.04.008

Publisher: Elsevier Masson / Elsevier: 12 months

Abstract: 

Objective: Osteoarthritis is not only characterized by cartilage degradation but also involves subchondral bone remodeling and osteophyte formation. Osteophytes are fibrocartilage-capped bony outgrowths originating from the periosteum. The pathophysiology of osteophyte formation is not completely understood. Yet, different research approaches are underway. Therefore, a histological osteophyte classification to achieve comparable results in osteophyte research was established for application to basic science research questions.

Methods: The osteophytes were collected from knee joints of osteoarthritis patients (n=10, 94 osteophytes in total) after joint replacement surgery. Their size and origin in the respective joint were photo-documented. To develop an osteophyte classification, serial tissue sections were evaluated using histological (hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, toluidine blue) and immunohistochemical staining (collagen type II).

Results: Based on the histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, osteophytes were categorized into four different types depending on the degree of ossification and the percentage of mesenchymal connective tissue. Size and localization of osteophytes were independent from the histological stages.

Conclusion: This histological classification system of osteoarthritis osteophytes provides a helpful tool for analyzing and monitoring osteophyte development and for characterizing osteophyte types within a single human joint and may therefore contribute to achieve comparable results when analyzing histological findings in osteophytes. (C) 2015 Societe francaise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Junker, S., Krumbholz, G., Frommer, K., Rehart, S., Steinmeyer, J., Rickert, M., et al. (2016) Differentiation of osteophyte types in osteoarthritis - proposal of a histological classification, Joint Bone Spine, 83(1), pp. 63-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2015.04.008

APA Citation style: Junker, S., Krumbholz, G., Frommer, K., Rehart, S., Steinmeyer, J., Rickert, M., Schett, G., Mueller-Ladner, U., & Neumann, E. (2016). Differentiation of osteophyte types in osteoarthritis - proposal of a histological classification. Joint Bone Spine. 83(1), 63-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2015.04.008