title: Knee joint transplantation combined with surgical angiogenesis in rabbits--a new experimental model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously described a means to maintain bone allotransplant viability, without long-term immune modulation, replacing allogenic bone vasculature with autogenous vessels. A rabbit model for whole knee joint transplantation was developed and tested using the same methodology, initially as an autotransplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knee joints of eight New Zealand White rabbits were elevated on a popliteal vessel pedicle to evaluate limb viability in a nonsurvival study. Ten additional joints were elevated and replaced orthotopically in a fashion identical to allotransplantation, obviating only microsurgical repairs and immunosuppression. A superficial inferior epigastric facial (SIEF) flap and a saphenous arteriovenous (AV) bundle were introduced into the femur and tibia respectively, generating a neoangiogenic bone circulation. In allogenic transplantation, this step maintains viability after cessation of immunosuppression. Sixteen weeks later, X-rays, microangiography, histology, histomorphometry, and biomechanical analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Limb viability was preserved in the initial eight animals. Both soft tissue and bone healing occurred in 10 orthotopic transplants. Surgical angiogenesis from the SIEF flap and AV bundle was always present. Bone and joint viability was maintained, with demonstrable new bone formation. Bone strength was less than the opposite side. Arthrosis and joint contractures were frequent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a rabbit knee joint model and evaluation methods suitable for subsequent studies of whole joint allotransplantation.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Microsurgery Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kremer
authors: Guilherme
authors: G
authors: Giusti
authors: Patricia F
authors: PF
authors: Friedrich
authors: Wouter
authors: W
authors: Willems
authors: Allen T
authors: AT
authors: Bishop
authors: Goetz A
authors: GA
authors: Giessler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005269:Femur / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013977:Tibia / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology