Osteochondral integration of multiply incised pure cartilage allograft: repair method of focal chondral defects in a porcine model.
BACKGROUND
A focal cartilage lesion has limited capacity to heal, and the repair modalities used at present are still unable to provide a universal solution. Pure cartilage graft implantation appears to be a simple option, but it has not been applied widely as cartilage will not reattach easily to the subchondral bone.


OBJECTIVE
We used a multiple-incision technique (processed chondrograft) to increase cartilage graft surface. We hypothesized that pure cartilage graft with augmented osteochondral fusion capacity may be used for cartilage repair and we compared this method with other repair techniques.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
Full-thickness focal cartilage defects were created on the medial femoral condyle of 9-month-old pigs; defects were repaired using various methods including bone marrow stimulation, autologous chondrocyte implantation, and processed chondrograft. After the repair, at weeks 6 and 24, macroscopic and histologic evaluation was carried out.


RESULTS
Compared with other methods, processed chondrograft was found to be similarly effective in cartilage repair. Defects without repair and defects treated with bone marrow stimulation appeared slightly irregular with fibrocartilage filling. Autologous chondrocyte implantation produced hyalinelike cartilage, although its cellular organization was distinguishable from the surrounding articular cartilage. Processed chondrograft demonstrated good osteochondral integration, and the resulting tissue appeared to be hyaline cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
The applied cartilage surface processing method allows acceptable osteochondral integration, and the repair tissue appears to have good macroscopic and histologic characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
If further studies confirm its efficacy, this technique could be considered for human application in the future.
Bardos
Tamas
T
Department of Orthopedics, University of Pecs, Ifjusag utja 13, Pecs, Hungary. tbardos@hotmail.com
Farkas
Boglarka
B
Mezes
Beata
B
Vancsodi
Jozsef
J
Kvell
Krisztian
K
Czompoly
Tamas
T
Nemeth
Peter
P
Bellyei
Arpad
A
Illes
Tamas
T
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013552:Swine; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous