Table 2.
Histological grading scale for the defects of cartilage
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Cell morphology | |
| Hyaline cartilage | 0 |
| Mostly hyaline cartilage | 1 |
| Mostly fibrocartilage | 2 |
| Mostly non-cartilage | 3 |
| Non-cartilage only | 4 |
| Matrix staining | |
| Normal | 0 |
| Slightly reduced | 1 |
| Markedly reduced | 2 |
| No metachromatic stain | 3 |
| Surface regularity* | |
| Smooth (> 3/4) | 0 |
| Moderate (> 1/2–3/4) | 1 |
| Irregular (1/4–1/2) | 2 |
| Severely irregular (< 1/4) | 3 |
| Thickness of cartilage# | |
| > 2/3 | 0 |
| 1/3–2/3 | 1 |
| < 1/3 | 2 |
| Integration of donor with adjacent host cartilage | |
| Both edges integrated | 0 |
| One edge integrated | 1 |
| Neither edge integrated | 2 |
| Total maximum | 14 |
*Total smooth area of the reparative cartilage compared with the entire area of the cartilage defect
#Average thickness of the reparative cartilage compared with that of the surrounding cartilage