Synopsis

The Cartilage-Bone interface acts as a viscoelastic material that can actively adapt to mechanical loads on both an instantaneous and long term basis. Loading this structure produces shear stresses on tissue components which, if excessive, lead to injury and its reaction. Reaction to injury has an early phase consisting of edema in subjacent bone marrow and overlying articular cartilage. Reaction to injury may extend as microfractures through the calcified cartilage,subchondral bone and/or trabecular bone. This is followed by repair which has the capacity to functionally regenerate the cartilage and bone tissues.