Formation of cartilage repair tissue in articular cartilage defects pretreated with microfracture and covered with cell-free polymer-based implants.

Full Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the mid-term outcome of a cell-free polymer-based cartilage repair approach in a sheep cartilage defect model in comparison to microfracture treatment. Cell-free, freeze-dried implants (chondrotissue) made of a poly-glycolic acid (PGA) scaffold and hyaluronan were immersed in autologous serum and used for covering microfractured full-thickness articular cartilage defects of the sheep (n = 4). Defects treated with microfracture only served as controls (n = 4). Six months after implantation, cartilage implants and controls were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen, histological staining of proteoglycans, and histological scoring. Histological analysis showed the formation of a cartilaginous repair tissue rich in proteoglycans. Histological scoring documented significant improvement of repair tissue formation when the defects were covered with the cell-free implant, compared to controls treated with microfracture. Immunohistochemistry showed that the cell-free implant induced cartilaginous repair tissue and type II collagen. Controls treated with microfracture showed marginal formation of a mixed-type repair tissue consisting of cartilaginous tissue and fibro-cartilage. Covering of microfractured defects with the cell-free polymer-based cartilage implant is suggested to be a promising treatment option for cartilage defects and improves the regeneration of articular cartilage. (c) 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Erggelet, Christoph (C); Endres, Michaela (M); Neumann, Katja (K); Morawietz, Lars (L); Ringe, Jochen (J); Haberstroh, Kathrin (K); Sittinger, Michael (M); Kaps, Christian (C);

Affiliation: Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society (J Orthop Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 27 (issue 10) : pp 1353-60

Dates: Created 2009/09/21; Completed 2009/10/08;

PMID: 19382184, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/8/2009, IMS Date: )

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