Thickness of human articular cartilage in joints of the lower limb

Abstract

OBJECTIVES (a) To determine the topographical variations in cartilage thickness over the entire surfaces of cadaveric lower limb joints, and (b) to examine the correlations between: cartilage thickness and its site specific modulus; cartilage thickness and donor age, weight, height, and body mass index. METHODS The cartilage thickness of 11 sets of cadaveric human joints each comprising an ankle, knee, and hip was measured using a needle probe technique. Statistical analysis was used to compare the cartilage thickness of the different lower limb joints and the differences in cartilage thickness over the surface of individual joints. It was further examined whether cartilage had a correlation with its stiffness, and any of the details of the specimen donors such as age, weight, height, and body mass index. RESULTS The mean cartilage thickness of the knee was significantly greater than that of the ankle and hip (pCONCLUSIONS The thickness of articular cartilage seems to be related to the congruance of a joint; thin cartilage is found in congruent joints such as the ankle, whereas thick cartilage is found in incongruent joints such as the knee. The correlations in this study imply that the larger and heavier was a donor the thicker was the cartilage in the lower limb joints. The data further suggest the presence of an inverse relation between the mean cartilage thickness and mean compressive modulus in each of the joints examined.