Dynamic viscoelastic characterisation of human osteochondral tissue: understanding the effect of the cartilage-bone interface.

The viscoelastic properties of the cartilage-bone core were significantly different to the tissues in isolation (p < 0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that the functionality of these tissues arises because they operate as a unit. This is evidenced through the link between cartilage energy dissipated and bone BMD. The results may provide insights into the functionality of the osteochondral unit, which may offer further understanding of disease progression, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Furthermore, the results emphasise the importance of studying human tissue, as bovine models do not always display the same trends.