Logo of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Br)
Quick search:        
          Advanced Search
Guest Access | Sign In
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 90-B, Issue 3, 324-329.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.90B3.18629  
Copyright © 2008 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow FrenchSpanishGermanItalianRomanianPolishRussianCzechGreek
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Takeda, M.
Right arrow Articles by Takagishi, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Takeda, M.
Right arrow Articles by Takagishi, K.

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EARLY AND PROGRESSIVE CASES

M. Takeda, MD, Research Fellow1; H. Higuchi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor1; M. Kimura, MD, PhD, Director2; Y. Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Associate Director2; M. Terauchi, MD, PhD, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon3; and K. Takagishi, MD, PhD, Professor Chairman1

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
2 Gunma Sports Medicine Research Centre Zenshukai Hospital, 1381 Ninomiya, Maebashi, Gunma 379-2117, Japan.
3 Gunma Chuo General Hospital, 1-7-13 Kounmachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0025, Japan.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr M. Takeda; e-mail: take32{at}siren.ocn.ne.jp

We prospectively examined the physical and imaging findings, including MRI, of 23 patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee after obtaining informed consent to acquire tissue specimens at surgery. There were four men and 19 women, with a mean age of 67.5 years (58 to 77). Plain radiographs were designated as stages 1, 2, 3 or 4 according to the classification of Koshino. Five knees were classified as stage 1, five as stage 2, seven as stage 3 and six as stage 4. The histological specimens were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and tetrachrome.

In the early stages of the condition, a subchondral fracture was noted in the absence of any features of osteonecrosis, whereas in advanced stages, osteonecrotic lesions were confined to the area distal to the site of the fracture which showed impaired healing. In such cases, formation of cartilage and fibrous tissue, occurred indicating delayed or nonunion. These findings strongly suggest that the histopathology at each stage of spontaneous osteonecrosis is characterised by different types of repair reaction for subchondral fractures.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Bone Joint Surg BrHome page
D. D. Robertson, D. R. Armfield, J. D. Towers, J. J. Irrgang, W. J. Maloney, and C. D. Harner
Meniscal root injury and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee: AN OBSERVATION
J Bone Joint Surg Br, February 1, 2009; 91-B(2): 190 - 195.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General