Novel calorimetric investigation of different degenerative disorders of the human hyaline cartilage

The purpose of this investigation was to further elucidate calorimetric properties of cartilage samples from femoral head necrosis and osteoarthritis from live surgeries. The natural course of this disease is one of steady progression with eventual collapse of the femoral head, followed by secondary osteoarthritis in the hip joint. All samples showed a clear denaturation peak on the calorimetric curve. Cartilage obtained from necrotic femoral head required the lowest amount of energy for decomposition. The use differential scanning calorimetry as part of thermal analysis was a reliable method for differentiating.