ISSN Print 2500–1094
ISSN Online 2542–1204
BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL OF PIROGOV UNIVERSITY (MOSCOW, RUSSIA)
Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee: Pirogov University.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY).
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Morphological subchondral bone tissue characteristics in knee osteoarthritis
About authors
1 Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russia
2 Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Correspondence should be addressed: Vladislav N. Akbashev
Lenina, 3, Ufa, 450008, Russia; ur.liam@bka-dalv
About paper
Author contribution: Minasov BSh — study concept and design, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript editing; Yakupov RR — material collection, morphological assessment, primary data processing; Akbashev VN — statistical processing, visualization of results, manuscript writing; Shchekin VS — literature review, morphology data interpretation; Vlasova AO — preparing illustrations, morphometry analysis, manuscript proofreading; Minasov TB — preparing illustrations, discussion; Karimov KK — material collection, clinical follow-up of patients; Akhmeldinova AA — drawing up inclusion/exclusion criteria, coordination of ethical approval.
Compliance with ethical standards: the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Bashkir State Medical University (protocol No. 3 dated 12 March 2025) and conducted in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). All patients submitted the informed consent to participation in the study.
Received: 2025-04-06
Accepted: 2025-04-20
Published online: 2025-04-30
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Morphological subchondral bone tissue alterations associated with knee osteoarthritis represent a key pathogenesis link and can precede articular cartilage destruction. The study aimed to identify typical morphological and morphometric signs of osteosclerosis and osteoporosis in the subchondral zone of the femur and tibia. Analysis of 40 bone tissue fragments collected when performing knee replacement surgery in 20 patients (12 females and 8 males) aged 58–75 years with stage III–IV osteoarthritis was performed. Histological and morphometric assessment involving the use of light microscopy and microfracture index (MFI) calculation revealed significant differences in trabecular thickness, intertrabecular distance, and the degree of microdamage between the sites of sclerosis and osteoporosis. High MFI values in the zones of osteoporosis can reflect reduced subchondral bone strength. The findings confirm the diagnostic value of the subchondral zone morphometry and the prospects of using MFI as a quantitative risk criterion when planning orthopedic treatment.
Keywords: osteoarthritis, subchondral bone, osteosclerosis, osteoporosis, morphometry, microcracks, microfracture index