Evaluation of small-intestinal submucosa implants for repair of meniscal defects in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) implants on the healing of meniscal lesions in dogs.


METHODS
16 adult Greyhounds of both sexes.


METHODS
Unilateral osteotomy was performed at time 0 to disrupt the medial collateral ligament attachment, and two (1 cranial and 1 caudal) 4-mm circular defects were created in the avascular portion of the medial meniscus. One defect was filled with an SIS graft, and the other defect remained empty (control). Three months later, the identical procedure was performed on the contralateral limb. Three months after the second surgery, dogs were euthanatized, and meniscal tissue specimens from both stifle joints were collected for gross, histologic, biomechanical, and biochemical evaluations.


RESULTS
Regenerative tissue was evident in 4 (2 SIS-implanted and 2 control) of 16 defects examined histologically. In 3 defects, this thin bridge of tissue was composed of immature haphazardly arranged fibrous connective tissue with a relatively uniform distribution of fibroblasts. Aggregate modulus, Poisson ratio, permeability, and shear modulus were not significantly different between control and SIS-implanted defects either 3 or 6 months after surgery. Hydroxyproline content also did not differ between SIS-implanted and control defects at 3 or 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Implantation of porcine SIS into experimentally induced meniscal lesions in dogs did not promote tissue regeneration.
Welch
Janet A
JA
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AL 36832, USA.
Montgomery
Ronald D
RD
Lenz
Stephen D
SD
Plouhar
Pamela
P
Shelton
Walter R
WR
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013264:Stifle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
D006909:Hydroxyproline