In osteoarthritis, subchondral bone becomes what?

In osteoarthritis, subchondral bone becomes what?

• A. It becomes less dense
• B. It becomes softer
• C. It remains unchanged
• D. It becomes denser and sclerotic

Answer: (D)

Subchondral bone becomes denser and sclerotic. When cartilage erodes in osteoarthritis, more stress is transmitted to the bone just underneath it. The bone responds with increased remodeling and mineralization, leading to thicker, more mineralized, and radiodense subchondral bone—subchondral sclerosis. This change helps reinforce the joint under abnormal load and is a classic radiographic finding, often alongside joint space narrowing and osteophyte formation. It’s not softer or unchanged; those options don’t fit the reaction of bone to degenerative cartilage loss.

Subchondral bone becomes denser and sclerotic. When cartilage erodes in osteoarthritis, more stress is transmitted to the bone just underneath it. The bone responds with increased remodeling and mineralization, leading to thicker, more mineralized, and radiodense subchondral bone—subchondral sclerosis. This change helps reinforce the joint under abnormal load and is a classic radiographic finding, often alongside joint space narrowing and osteophyte formation. It’s not softer or unchanged; those options don’t fit the reaction of bone to degenerative cartilage loss.