An optimised procedure for histological assessment of cartilage damage

Abstract

Cartilage damage caused by degeneration or injury can accelerate joint deterioration, leading to impaired joint function if it is not detected and treated in time. Due to the avascular and nerveless nature of cartilage tissue, fully repairing hyaline cartilage remains a challenge for researchers. Besides, assessing the severity of damage and the effectiveness of treatment for cartilage damage is very important. Although various non-invasive longitudinal monitoring methods, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology remains the “gold standard” for assessing joint cartilage quality. However, research on cartilage histopathology in Vietnam is still not yet widely conducted. This research aims to establish an efficient, feasible, and reliable evaluation process for cartilage histopathology in humans and experimental animals.