Outerbridge Cartilage Grade (0-IV)

Outerbridge classification (Outerbridge 1961) of articular cartilage damage graded at arthroscopy.

Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.

Example

Outerbridge grade
IV — exposed subchondral bone (full-thickness loss)

Result: Outerbridge grade IV: cartilage worn through to exposed subchondral bone (full-thickness cartilage loss).

The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.

What the result means

Grade 0 / I
Normal cartilage (0) or softening and swelling with an intact surface (I).
Grade II / III
Partial-thickness fissures not reaching bone and <= 1.5 cm (II); fissuring to subchondral bone in an area > 1.5 cm (III).
Grade IV
Cartilage worn through to exposed subchondral bone (full-thickness loss).

What you enter

  • Outerbridge grade
How this is calculated

Outerbridge RE. The etiology of chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1961;43-B(4):752-757. Read the source ↗

A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.

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Built by Clay Good. Source on GitHub.