Table 1.
Score 1 | Score 2 | Score 3 | Score 4 | Score 5 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Articular cartilage complex | |||||
Thickened cartilage (focal necrotic cartilage)* | + | + | ++ | ++ | ++ |
Separation in osteochondral junction | – | – | + | ++ | ++ |
Cleft(s) in articular cartilage | – | – | +/– | +/– | ++ |
Subchondral bone tissue | |||||
Hyperaemia, haemorrhage | – | + | + | ++ | ++ |
Necrosis/fibrosis, subchondral cysts | – | +/– | + | ++ | ++ |
Extent of lesion | Minor | Small | Moderate | Extensive | Severe |
Lesions were assessed as minor–small (+), moderate–extensive (++), varying presence (+/–), or not present (–). A score of 0 reflected normal tissue with no osteochondral lesions; scores 1–5 indicated increasing size and number of lesions. *Lesions that were difficult to diagnose macroscopically were examined histologically for areas of necrotic cartilage.