Table 2 Histology grading scale (modified from Mainil-Varlet et al. [37]) used in evaluation of medial menisco-tibial articulating tissues
Feature | Score |
|---|---|
I. Surface (0–3) | |
 Smooth and continuous  Slight irregularities  Moderate irregularities  Discontinuous and irregular | 3 2 1 0 |
II. Matrix (0–3) | |
 Hyaline  Mixture of hyaline and fibrocartilage  Fibrocartilage  Fibrous tissue | 3 2 1 0 |
III. Cell distribution (0–3) | |
 Columnar  Mixed columnar and clusters  Clusters  Individual cells, disorganized | 3 2 1 0 |
IV. Cell population viability (0–3) | |
 Intact–normal  Intact–cellular changes  Moderate disruption  Severe disruption | 3 2 1 0 |
V. Cartilage thinning/erosion, loss of stain (0–3) | |
 Normal  Loss of staining  Thinning  Severe erosion | 3 2 1 0 |
VI. Subchondral bone (0–3) | |
 Normal  Active remodeling  Severe bony changes  Bone necrosis and/or granulation tissue | 3 2 1 0 |
VII. Mineralization (0–3) | |
 Normal  Slight changes  Moderate changes  Abnormal, inappropriate flocculation | 3 2 1 0 |
VIII. Meniscus (0–3) | |
 Normal  Slight changes  Moderate disruption  Severe disruption | 3 2 1 0 |
Total score (0–24) | |