Scanty integration of osteochondral allografts cryopreserved at low temperatures with dimethyl sulfoxide.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the integration of osteochondral allografts cryopreserved at different temperatures and different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide in an in vivo sheep animal model.


METHODS
Thirty-six adult sheep were randomly allocated to 6 groups of allograft osteochondral transplantation. Six osteochondral cylinders were stored for 6 weeks at -80°C; 6 at -80°C with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); 6 at -80°C with 10% DMSO for 90 min; 6 at -186°C; 6 at -186°C with 10% DMSO; 6 at -186°C for 90 min. After transplantation, all animals were euthanized at 6 months. Harvested specimens underwent gross morphologic and histologic evaluation.


RESULTS
We found no statistically significant differences when comparing the gross cartilage morphology and histopathologic scores of each group. The Mankin and OARSI scores and the modified Wakitani and OARSI scores showed a good correlation grade. The Mankin and modified Wakitani scores showed a fair correlation grade.


CONCLUSIONS
The cryopreservation protocols adopted in the present study provided scanty integration in an in vivo sheep model of osteochondral allograft transplantation. Therefore, their use in the clinical practice is discouraged.
Research Unit FREMAP Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Francisco
F
Forriol
Umile Giuseppe
UG
Longo
Eduardo
E
Alvarez
Stefano
S
Campi
Purificacion
P
Ripalda
Carla
C
Rabitti
Nicola
N
Maffulli
Vincenzo
V
Denaro
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D005269:Femur / Q000637:transplantation*; D016348:Osseointegration; D011897:Random Allocation; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013696:Temperature; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide