Histologic classification of loose bodies in osteoarthrosis

It is well known that loose bodies grow from proliferation of cartilage without blood supply in the joint cavity, and that enchondral ossification is able to develop only under the condition of having a blood supply. As synovial membrane nodules were also classified to the same types as loose bodies and more than half of osteochondral and osseous loose bodies contained blood vessels with red blood cells, the loose bodies were thought to be caught in the synovial membrane and to be modified as the result of a blood supply. Considering the results of this study, the various histologic characteristics of loose bodies in osteoarthrosis resulted from modifications including cartilage proliferation in the joint cavity and enchondral ossification in the synovial membrane.