Figure 4

Micro-CT images showed morphology and distribution of subchondral bone of distal femur and proximal tibia with and without ESWT (A). The subchondral plate thicknesses of femur (B) and tibia (C) were significantly reduced in OA, OP, and OA + OP groups as compared with sham (indicated as _*P < 0.05 and _**P < 0.001). ESWT-treated groups showed significantly higher values than did those without ESWT (indicated as #P < 0.05). The OA group showed significantly thicker subchondral plates than did the OA + OP group, with and with ESWT, respectively (indicated as ※P < 0.05 and ※※P < 0.001). The bone porosities of femur (D) and tibia (E) showed increased bone porosity in OA, OP, and OA + OP groups as compared with sham with or without ESWT (indicated as _*P < 0.05). ESWT significantly reduced the bone porosity in groups OA, OP, and OA + OP, as compared with sham (indicated as #P < 0.05). The OA group showed significantly lower bone porosity than did the OP and OA + OP groups with ESWT and without ESWT, respectively (indicated as ※P < 0.05 and ※※P < 0.001). The scale bar represents 1 mm; n = 8.