The mechanical 'quality' of osteophytes.

Intrinsic mechanical properties of osteophytes have been compared with those of normal articular cartilage by obtaining force-indentation curves. The cartilage of the osteophyte was found to be thinner than articular cartilage. The mean stiffness of osteophytes was 272.8 (+/- 78.8) N/mm and the mean stiffness of articular cartilage was 1412 (+/- 917.3) N/mm.