Focal lacunar resorption in the articular cartilage of femoral heads.

Human articular cartilage taken from 92 femoral heads at autopsy was examined macroscopically and microscopically. Fifty-two showed no changes except for occasional slight degeneration in the non-pressure areas; these changes were visible only microscopically. In the remaining 40 heads, different degrees of osteoarthrosis were seen; half the heads also showed focal lacunar resorptive lesions in the cartilage. The origin of this focal cartilage resorption is discussed and its possible association with necrosis, pannus formation and enzymatic synovial activities. We conclude that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between focal cartilage resorption and osteoarthrosis.