title: In vivoevaluation of porous hydrogel pins to fill osteochondral defects in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This experimental study aimed to evaluate the biological performance of poly (l-co-D, l-lactic acid)-co-trimetilene carbonate/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PLDLA-co TMC/PVA), hydrogel scaffolds, as an implant in the filling (and not in the repair) of osteochondral defects in New Zealand rabbits, assessing the influence of the material in tissue protectionin vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve rabbits were divided into groups of nine and 16 weeks. In each animal, an osteochondral defect was created in both medial femoral condyles. In one knee, a hydrogel scaffold was implanted (pin group) and in the other, the defect was maintained (control group). A histological analysis of the material was performed after euthanasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The condyles of the pin group showed no inflammatory reaction and were surrounded by a fibrous capsule. The control group presented higher bone growth in the areas of the defect, but with disorganized articular cartilage, evident fibrosis, bone exposure, atrophy, and proliferation of synovial membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hydrogel pins are promising infillingosteochondral defects, generally do not cause inflammatory reactions, and are not effective in therepairof osteochondral defects.
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Túlio Pereira
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Petry Sandoval
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ursolino
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pamela de Melo
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edie Benedito
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Vinicius
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Mistura
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana Aparecida de Rezende
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Duek
keywords: Articular cargilage; Hydrogels/chemistry; Rabbits