title: Experimental models to promote healing of tears in the avascular segment of canine knee menisci.
abstract: Longitudinal tears were created in canine lateral menisci and techniques were applied to induce healing by removal of a core of tissue from the periphery of the meniscus to the tear or by implantation of a vascularized synovial flap into the tear. The meniscal tears did not heal in knees that were not immobilized, and they healed poorly and sporadically in knees that were immobilized in a cast but bore some weight. However, a higher percentage of tears that were treated by the core-removal or synovial-flap technique healed when the knee was firmly immobilized and weight-bearing was prevented by the use of an external skeletal fixator across the joint for eight to twelve weeks. Neovascularization and access to a source of reparative cells appear to be important in the healing process.
authors: Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, California 92161.
authors: D H
authors: DH
authors: Gershuni
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Skyhar
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Danzig
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Camp
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Hargens
authors: W H
authors: WH
authors: Akeson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D007103:Immobilization; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000637:transplantation; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014945:Wound Healing