Bone
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In this study, we have examined the correlation between the histological and histochemical changes of articular cartilage and bone parameters of the underlying subchondral bone. The aim was to elucidate patterns of bone parameter changes within different depths of subchondral bone in the joints with macroscopically normal cartilage and in joints with osteoarthritis (OA). Ten tibial plateaus were taken from patients during total knee replacement surgery due to severe OA. ⋯ Comparison of bone parameters from three different stage of articular cartilage degeneration (Mankin score) showed that higher degree of cartilage degeneration is followed by significant changes in subchondral bone architecture. Furthermore, we have found that progression of cartilage degeneration leads to changes in bone parameters which affected deeper levels of subchondral bone. According to these results, it can be suggested that changes in histomorphometric parameters of subchondral bone are secondary to cartilage damage and proceed deeper into subchondral bone with increasing cartilage degeneration.