Articular cartilage. Part II: Degeneration and osteoarthrosis, repair, regeneration, and transplantation

Abstract

Joint pain and loss of motion are common causes of functional impairment with advancing age. In many cases, articular cartilage degeneration accounts for this pain and motion loss. Such degeneration occurs in idiopathic or primary osteoarthritis, but may also be secondary to joint injury or developmental, metabolic, or infl ammatory disorders. This review examines the current understanding of articular cartilage degeneration including the changes in its composition and structure that lead to cartilage dysfunction. The relation between cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis as well as the relation between degeneration and joint use is also evaluated. Approaches of restoring the composition, structure, and function of articular cartilage are described.