Son múltiples los agentes nocivos que pueden desencadenar una lesión artrósica, pero no en forma aislada y sin un terreno que predisponga al paciente. Sin embargo, nuestros estudios estructurales del caro1ago indican que el centro de la lesión artrósica es el condrocito, y que independientemente de cuáles sean los factores etiopatogénicos. debe ocurrir una alteración de la interfase hueso-cartílago para que se produzcan daños en este tejido, y se altere, rompiéndose el equilibrio cuya consecuencia son las alteraciones descritas
Articular cartilage is a especialized tissue composed of cclls and abundant hyaline matrix synthetizcd by condrocytes. Condrocytes death is thought to be a primary lession in ostcoanhriús, but its mechanism is un1mown. The hypothesis includes darnage of subcoodral bone (disruplion of vascular irrigation), mechanical injurcs, age, ali together causing condrocytes damagc.
Inmunologic involvement, increased enzimatic breakdown and hidroxiapatite cristals may also play an importan trole incartilagedegeneration. Histopatologic processcs always showcondrocytes alteration, with low cell density, disrupted carúlage surfacc, ah.crcd synovial íluid and fi brosis. Our study over 20 patients with clinical artroses enables us to state that the main etiopathogcnic mechanism in thc arthroses is due to interruption of the vital condrocytc cyclc and failurc of metabolic exchange between these cells and their particular intcrccllular substance.