Prospects and advantages in the use of cartilage cell cultures for in vivo transplants.
The authors present a critical analysis of the literature in order to evaluate the current prospects and advantages of cartilage cell cultures for in vivo transplants. The analysis is relative to their use or to the treatment of isolated osteochondral lesions of the knee, and it is preceded by an analysis of the methods used in the treatment of this pathology, such as: 1) debridement, 2) abrasion of the subchondral bone, 3) perforations and decortication of the subchondral bone, 4) perichondral transplants. The most significant results obtained for cartilage cell transplants for the repair of focal osteochondral defects in experiments conducted on animals and in successive clinical trials in man, also revealing the complex problems that may lead to a variability in chondrocytary activity, going from an in vitro to an in vivo environment, are presented.
Campailla
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E
Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica, Università, Udine.
Causero
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A
Fogolari
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G
Mastidoro
L
L
Osti
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L
D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans