An anatomic investigation of the elbow joint, with special reference to aging of the articular cartilage.

The architecture of the articular surface of the elbow joint and the location of cartilage degeneration with aging was analyzed. The study included 131 elbow joints of 66 cadavers preserved by embalming. The age of subjects at death ranged from 49 to 96 years (mean 79 years). The elbow joint was observed macroscopically and analyzed. The degenerative changes in the radiohumeral joint were always more advanced than those in the humeroulnar joint. The erosion or chondral defect in the capitulum is located in the area 45° anterior to the long axis of the humerus. The anterior part of the erosion in the crest separating the trochlea from the capitulum was roughly 48.5° to the long axis of the humerus. It was similar in position to the erosion found in the capitulum. Based on the degree and area of cartilage degeneration, the changes in the radial head could be divided into four types. The mode of radial head cartilage degeneration correlated well with cartilage degeneration in the radiohumeral articulation and also with osteoarthritis of the elbow joint. Simplistically, one could classify elbow joint osteoarthritis by knowing the extent of radial head degeneration.