Level dependent alterations in human facet cartilage mechanics and bone morphometry with spine degeneration.

ABSTRACT: The zygapophyseal joints of the spine, also known as the facet joints, are paired diarthrodial joints posterior to the intervertebral disc and neural elements. The pathophysiology of facet osteoarthritis (OA), as well as crosstalk between the disc and facets, remains largely understudied compared to disc degeneration. The purpose of this study was to characterize alterations to human facet cartilage and subchondral bone across a spectrum of degeneration and to investigate correlations between disc and facet degeneration. Human lumbar facet articular surfaces from six independent donors were subject to creep indentation mechanical testing to quantify cartilage mechanical properties, followed by microcomputed tomography (µCT) analyses for subchondral bone morphometry. The degenerative state

SUBMITTER: Gupta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9800647 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature