[Free synovium grafting for the repair of the avascular portion of canine knee joint meniscus].
To evaluate the effect of free synovium on repair of avascular portion of the meniscus in the knee, two round full-thickness defects of 2 mm phi were made in the medial menisci of 57 dogs, followed by transplantation of free synovium or blood clots in the holes. Defects with no grafting served as control. Specimens were evaluated histologically at intervals from 1 day to 12 weeks after grafting. The portions of the medial menisci filled with blood clots gradually retracted after surgery and showed no complete repair 6 and 12 weeks after the operation as in the control. In the group which received synovial graft, however, fibrous reparation was observed in 62% of total 13 defects 3 weeks after grafting. Six and 12 weeks after the synovial transplantation, complete reparation by fibrocartilaginous tissue with no signs of tissue retraction was observed in more than 65% of total 17 defects. Therefore, synovial grafting seemed to be a potential method for the repair of the avascular portion of the canine knee joint meniscus.
Sekiya
H
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000637:transplantation*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries