title: [Bio-artificial implants in orthopedics].
abstract: Aging of the population and thus of loadbearing cartilage produces a number of degenerative symptoms. At the knee, considerable macroscopic asymmetry of the joint underlies these degenerative changes, were it not for two menisci that somewhat neutralize this discongruency. Microscopically, cartilage is a structure within the knee joint that allows for low friction and congruent movement. Repetitive microtrauma rather than macrotrauma can affect its integrity. Both microscopically and macroscopically reconstruction of a cartilage-like structure is achieved through implantation of cultured cells or auto- and allografts either by minimally invasive or classical surgery, which theoretically could have a beneficial effect on the natural course of degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Kliniek voor Orthopedie, Fysische Geneeskunde en Revalidatie--UGent, De Pintelaan 185-B 9000 Gent.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verdonk
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdonk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verstraete
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials