Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Tolga Keçeci; Hasan Bombacı; Ayşe Özlem Balık; Fügen Vardar Aker

Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

This study investigates the interplay between cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone alterations including bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA), with a particular focus on the influence of body mass index (BMI). A total of 22 knees from 21 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty were evaluated using a combination of clinical assessments, radiographic imaging, MRI, histopathology, and subchondral bone density measurements. The presence of BMLs did not correlate significantly with clinical scores or histological parameters. Notably, patients with BMI ≥30 demonstrated significantly lower subchondral bone density in the medial tibial plateau and greater histological cartilage degeneration in the lateral femoral condyle compared to those with BMI <30. These findings suggest that obesity may adversely affect subchondral bone integrity and cartilage quality in advanced OA, independent of clinical symptom severity. The results highlight the potential role of biomechanical and metabolic factors in modifying the osteoarthritic joint environment and underscore the need for further research integrating structural and functional biomarkers.

Keywords

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

HNEAH KAEK 2017/86

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Orthopaedics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tolga Keçeci ^*
0000-0001-7313-0920
Türkiye

Hasan Bombacı
0000-0002-8181-9805
Türkiye

Ayşe Özlem Balık
0000-0002-5703-6720
Türkiye

Fügen Vardar Aker
0000-0002-7092-3391
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

April 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 42 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Keçeci, T., Bombacı, H., Balık, A. Ö., & Vardar Aker, F. (2025). Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, 42(3), 290-295. https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR

AMA

1.Keçeci T, Bombacı H, Balık AÖ, Vardar Aker F. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42(3):290-295. https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR

Chicago

Keçeci, Tolga, Hasan Bombacı, Ayşe Özlem Balık, and Fügen Vardar Aker. 2025. “Clinical, Radiological, and Histopathological Evaluation of Changes in Cartilage and Subchondral Bone in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 (3): 290-95. https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR.

EndNote

Keçeci T, Bombacı H, Balık AÖ, Vardar Aker F (September 1, 2025) Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 3 290–295.

IEEE

[1]T. Keçeci, H. Bombacı, A. Ö. Balık, and F. Vardar Aker, “Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis”, J. Exp. Clin. Med., vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 290–295, Sept. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR

ISNAD

Keçeci, Tolga - Bombacı, Hasan - Balık, Ayşe Özlem - Vardar Aker, Fügen. “Clinical, Radiological, and Histopathological Evaluation of Changes in Cartilage and Subchondral Bone in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis”. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42/3 (September 1, 2025): 290-295. https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR.

JAMA

1.Keçeci T, Bombacı H, Balık AÖ, Vardar Aker F. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42:290–295.

MLA

Keçeci, Tolga, et al. “Clinical, Radiological, and Histopathological Evaluation of Changes in Cartilage and Subchondral Bone in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 42, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 290-5, https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR.

Vancouver

1.Tolga Keçeci, Hasan Bombacı, Ayşe Özlem Balık, Fügen Vardar Aker. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological evaluation of changes in cartilage and subchondral bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. J. Exp. Clin. Med. [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 1;42(3):290-5. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA43GZ86XR