rss
Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:222-225 doi:10.1136/ard.2004.021329
  • Extended report

Thermal stability and structure of cancellous bone mineral from the femoral head of patients with osteoarthritis or osteoporosis

  1. L D Mkukuma1,
  2. C T Imrie2,
  3. J M S Skakle2,
  4. D W L Hukins3,4,
  5. R M Aspden1
  1. 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
  2. 2Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
  3. 3Department of Bio-Medical Physics and Bio-Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
  4. 4Current address: School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor R M Aspden
    University of Aberdeen, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK; r.aspdenabdn.ac.uk
  • Accepted 1 June 2004

Abstract

Background: Cancellous bone from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported to be undermineralised and that from patients with osteoporosis (OP) is more liable to fracture. Changes in the mineral component might be implicated in these processes.

Objectives: To investigate the thermal stability and the mineral structure of cancellous bone from femoral heads of patients with either OA or OP.

Methods: Powdered bone was prepared from femoral heads of patients with either OA or OP and a control group. Composition and thermal stability were determined using a thermogravimetric analyser coupled to a mass spectrometer. Unit cell dimensions and the crystallite size of the mineral were measured using x ray diffraction.

Results: Thermal stability of the bone matrix, or of the mineral phase alone, was little altered by disease, though OA bone contained less mineral than OP or control bone. In all three groups, x ray diffraction showed that the mineral unit cell dimensions and crystallite sizes were the same. The mean carbonate content in the mineral from all three groups was between 7.2 and 7.6% and is suggested to be located in both the A site (that is, substituting for hydroxyl groups), and the B site (that is, substituting for phosphate groups).

Conclusions: These results confirm that there is a lower mass fraction of mineral in OA bone, and indicate that the nature of the mineral is not a factor in either disease process.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.