Reconstruction of Articular Cartilage with Free Autologous Perichondrial Grafts

Abstract

An experimental study in adult rabbits has been performed to find out whether the cartilage forming capacity of the perichondrium could be utilized in reconstruction of articular cartilage. The normal articular cartilage of the glenoid surface of the humero-scapular joint was completely removed. Auricular perichondrium was grafted to cover the exposed bony surface with the active chondrogenic layer of the perichondrial graft facing the joint cavity. The joint was not immobilized but the operated limb was amputated at wrist level to avoid weight bearing. The animals were sacrificed at different time intervals ranging from 1 to 17 weeks. In 12 out of 14 grafted rabbits regeneration of cartilage occurred. In 6 of 10 control cases where no perichondrium was grafted to cover the resected surface no cartilage was found. In the other 4, only small areas of mature cartilage were seen, probably remnants of the original articular cartilage.

Long-term results of rib perichondrial grafts for repair of cartilage defects in the human knee

“…Spontaneous healing is poor, and shaving and drilling the lesions result in fibrocartilage which is mechanically inferior to articular cartilage. Rib perichondrium has the potential to differentiate into cartilage with similar properties to hyaline cartilage [2,3,6,10]. Our study shows that the success of this procedure depends on the selection of patients.…”

“…From September 1986 to December 1992, 88 patients with articular cartilage defects were treated by perichondrial arthroplasty in the University Hospital, Maastricht [2,8,16,25,26]. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down by the 1994 Declaration of Helsinki.…”

“…Rib perichondrium when transplanted into a cartilage defect produces tissue which closely resembles hyaline cartilage [4,5,6,11,19], and which may develop into normal hyaline cartilage when placed in a joint [6,10]. In an animal model, this newly formed cartilage has been shown to have the same visco-elastic properties as hyaline cartilage matched for age and health [32].…”

Reconstruction of Articular Cartilage Defects with Free Periosteal Grafts:An Experimental Study

“…In 1972 Skoog et al showed the chondrogenic capacity of free perichondrial grafts. Free perichondrial grafts were used in experimental reconstruction of articular cartilage defects by Ritsila & Alhopuro (1975) and Engkvist (1979).…”

Rabbit articular cartilage defects treated by allogenic chondrocyte transplantation

“…Periosteal or perichondrial grafts have been used for treatment of localised cartilage defects in animals. However, the results of transplantation with both periosteum and perichondrium are inconsistent [8,23,24]. Thus, a variety of strategies has been employed for managing articular cartilage defects of the knee.…”