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

✍ Scribed by Christoph Erggelet; Michaela Endres; Katja Neumann; Lars Morawietz; Jochen Ringe; Kathrin Haberstroh; Michael Sittinger; Christian Kaps

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 354 KB
• Volume: 27
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0736-0266
• DOI: 10.1002/jor.20879

✦ Synopsis

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. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1353–1360, 2009