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Biomedical subjects

C J Pirie

Publications and source records attributed to C J Pirie.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: a histomorphometric study.

AIMS: To determine whether remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis is related to anatomical and mechanical factors operating on the joint surface. METHODS: Ten femoral heads were examined. Patients due to have the femoral head removed because of osteoarthritis were given a double tetracycline label before surgery. The specimens were divided in three roughly equal parts, corresponding to the medial, central (weight bearing), and lateral aspects of the femoral heads. Undecalcified methylmethacrylate embedded sections were prepared. The subchondral bone was assessed for appositional bone formation by ultraviolet light microscopy, for resorptive activity by osteoclast count, and for trabecular bone volume by semiautomatic computerised image analysis. Appositional bone rate was also correlated with the presence or absence of overlying cartilage. RESULTS: Bone density was reduced in the medial aspect of the femoral heads but there was no significant difference between the appositional bone rate or the resorptive activity in the three areas. Nor was there any correlation between appositional bone rate in the subchondral bone and the presence or absence of overlying cartilage. CONCLUSION: Remodelling of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis, at least in the short term, is fairly constant and is not related to weight bearing.

Aged↗

The effect of hydroxyapatite coating on ingrowth of bone into cavities in an implant.

A canine implant study was performed to assess whether hydroxyapatite (HA) could induce bone to close gaps at the bone-prosthesis junction. Titanium alloy (TiAlV) plates with varying grooves cut into them (1, 2, and 3 mm deep) and identical on both sides were sprayed on one side with HA and left as bare metal on the other. These were then implanted into the distal femora of dogs that were killed 4 and 8 weeks afterwards. Specimens were analyzed using optical microscopy and microradiography. Results show that the presence of HA induces bone to grow almost completely down the deepest groove by 8 weeks. In the 1- and 2-mm grooves at 4 weeks the depth of penetration of bone into the grooves was greater on the HA coated side (but the actual volume of bone in the grooves was greater on the TiAlV side because the bone present was more dense). We conclude that the presence of HA induces bone to close relatively large gaps. Although bone does not grow all the way into uncoated defects there can be more bone here in the short term. This feature of HA may be of great value in hip implant fixation.

Animals↗

Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine and their sequelae.

Careful pathological examination of lumbar spines removed at autopsy has shown that degenerative changes are present in the intervertebral discs of all subjects by middle age. The degenerative changes are more marked and occur at an earlier age when evidence of vertical or posterior disc prolapse is also present. Degenerative changes in the discs are always accompanied by osteophyte formation on the margins of the vertebral bodies and remodelling changes in the apophyseal joints. There is a direct relationship between the degree of disc degeneration, marginal osteophyte formation on vertebral bodies, and apophyseal joint changes, which suggests that disc degeneration is the primary event leading to the clinical condition of 'degenerative spondylosis'.

Adolescent↗