MORPHOLOGICAL CRITERIA OF CARTILAGE DEGRADATION IN POST-TRAUMATIC GONARTHROSIS

Post-traumatic gonarthrosis (PTG) is one of the most common pathological conditions of the knee joint, developing as a consequence of traumatic injuries and characterized as a destructive-degenerative disease. Unlike primary osteoarthritis, PTG often occurs in relatively younger patients and is associated with previous meniscal, ligamentous, or intra-articular injuries. The key mechanism in its pathogenesis is the progressive degradation of the articular cartilage, accompanied by subchondral bone sclerosis and microstructural alterations under the influence of inflammatory mediators.