What does "polished ivory appearance of bone" indicate?

The term "polished ivory appearance of bone" refers specifically to eburnation, which is a condition often seen in the end stages of osteoarthritis. Eburnation occurs when the cartilage in a joint is worn away, leading to exposure of the underlying bone. This exposed bone undergoes changes characterized by smoothness and density, giving it a polished, ivory-like appearance.

In osteoarthritis, as the disease progresses, the continuous stress and friction in the joint cause the bone to remodel and become denser. This can result in the thickening and smoothing of the bone surface, resulting in the distinct appearance that is noted during radiographic evaluations.

Other conditions listed do not present with this specific morphology. For example, bone marrow edema associated with osteomyelitis typically presents with signals of inflammation on imaging rather than a polished surface. Subchondral sclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis may indeed involve changes in the bone, but the appearance is more related to increased density rather than the smooth, polished nature seen with eburnation. Osteopenia in early osteoporosis indicates a reduction in bone density rather than a polished appearance, and it would not produce the smooth surface characteristic of eburnation.

Thus, the polished ivory appearance of bone is a clinical radi