Which radiographic feature is characteristic of osteoarthritis?

• A. Osteophytes
• B. Eburnation
• C. Subchondral sclerosis
• D. Joint space widening

Answer: (B)

Osteoarthritis shows changes that reflect cartilage wear and the resulting stress on the subchondral bone. When the cartilage is profoundly damaged, the exposed subchondral bone rubs against itself and becomes polished and smooth, a appearance pathologists call eburnation. This polished surface directly signals that cartilage loss has progressed to bone-on-bone contact, which is characteristic of advanced OA and helps explain the pain and stiffness that accompany severe disease.

Other radiographic features like osteophyte formation and subchondral sclerosis are common in OA and joint space narrowing occurs as cartilage disappears, but eburnation specifically highlights the consequence of extensive cartilage loss with exposed bone.