Mankin score

Although the Mankin score is still widely used to assess histopathological changes semiquantitatively, the group of Salter remarked on its limitations with respect... 

The images also showed a significant decrease in superficial layer chondroihn sulfate content for severely osteoarthritic carhlage, and a variability in tangential zone collagen content. These FT-IR results correlated well with the Mankin scoring. 

Methods Muscle weakness was produced in one year old, female New Zealand white rabbits by injecting botulinum toxin type-A (BTXA) into the quadriceps musculature for times ranging from 1-6 months [7]. Contralateral limbs served as saline injected controls while other animals served as normal controls. Strength, muscle mass, muscle structure and knee histology (Mankin score) were evaluated to determine if muscle weakness caused joint degeneration. 

Instead of a more elaborate score, Brewster et al. (1998) reduced the staging originating from the Mankin grades to a more simplified score, which still leads to statistically significant differences between the treatment groups. 

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