Repetitive Stresses Generate Osteochondral Lesions in Skeletally Immature Rabbits

Conclusion: Low-grade lesions in human OCD have little gross articular cartilage involvement despite substantial changes to the subchondral bone as shown on magnetic resonance imaging and radiographs. Histopathology findings in this study included cartilage thickening and chondrocyte cloning resembling those of recently published human OCD biopsy studies. Our animal model supports the hypothesis that repetitive stress to immature knees may contribute to the development of human OCD. This model may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology and healing of human OCD. Clinical Relevance: Repetitive physiologic stress generated changes to the subchondral bone in immature animals without causing extensive articular damage. The similarities of these lesions in gross and histologic appearance with human OCD support repetitive stress as the likely the cause for human OCD.
Source: The American Journal of Sports Medicine - Category: Sports Medicine Authors: Tags: Biomechanics, articular cartilage, Biomechanics, bone, Microscopic pathology, Knee, osteochondritis dissecans, Pediatric sports medicine Biology and Translational Research Source Type: research