What is "eburnation"

Eburnation \E`bur*na"tion\, n. [L. eburnus of ivory, fr. ebur ivory: cf. F. ['e]burnation. See Ivory.] (Med.) A condition of bone cartilage occurring in certain diseases of these tissues, in which they acquire an unnatural density, and come to resemble ivory.

n. Degenerative process of bone occurring at sites of articular cartilage erosion commonly found in patients with osteoarthritis. Sub-chondral bone responds to increased friction by generating reactive, ivory-like, dense bone at the site of erosion.

n. a change that occurs in degenerative joint disease in which bone is converted into a dense smooth substance resembling ivory

Eburnation describes a degenerative process of bone commonly found in patients with osteoarthritis or non-union of fractures. It is an ivory-like reaction of bone occurring at the site of cartilage erosion. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints characterized largely by central loss of cartilage and compensatory peripheral bone formation ( osteophytes). Over time, as the cartilage wears away, bare, subchondral bone is revealed. Eburnation describes the bony sclerosis which occurs at the areas of cartilage loss.