Randomized Controlled Trial
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World J Orthop. Sep 18, 2014; 5(4): 550-556
Published online Sep 18, 2014. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v5.i4.550
Donor’s site evaluation after restoration with autografts or synthetic plugs in rabbits
Konstantinos S Intzoglou, Dimitrios S Mastrokalos, Dimitrios S Korres, Kleo Papaparaskeva, Dimitrios Koulalis, George C Babis
Konstantinos S Intzoglou, Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, Maroussi 14561, Greece
Konstantinos S Intzoglou, Dimitrios S Korres, 3rd Ortopaedic University Department, “K.A.T.” Hospital, Maroussi, Athens 14561, Greece
Dimitrios S Mastrokalos, Dimitrios Koulalis, George C Babis, 1st Orthopaedic University Department, “ATTIKON” Hospital, Haidari, Athens 12462, Greece
Kleo Papaparaskeva, Pathology department, Konstantinopouleion Hospital, Nea Ionia, Athens 14233, Greece
Author contributions: Intzoglou KS performed all the animal experiments, designed the protocol and wrote the manuscript; Mastrokalos DS designed the protocol; Papaparaskeva K processed every specimen after its sacrifice and scored all specimens according to the ICRS scoring system; Korres DS helped in the writing of the manuscript; Koulalis DS helped in all animal experiments and surgeries, designed the protocol and helped in writing the manuscript; Babis GC helped in writing the manuscript and co-ordinated the collection of our data.
Correspondence to: Konstantinos S Intzoglou, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Chief Resident, 3rd Ortopaedic University Department, “K.A.T.” Hospital, Maroussi, Athens, TK 14561, Greece. kintzoglou@hotmail.com
Telephone: +30-69-46352932 Fax: +30-21-11831083
Received: February 24, 2014
Revised: June 14, 2014
Accepted: June 20, 2014
Published online: September 18, 2014
Processing time: 176 Days and 23.7 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate donor site’s area histological and immunohistochemical knee cartilage appearances after resurfacing iatrogenic defects with biosynthetic plugs orautografts.

METHODS: Thirty New Zealand White rabbits were used in this study. A full-thickness cylindrical defect of 4.5 mm (diameter) × 7 mm (depth) was created with a hand drill in the femoral groove of every animal. In Group A (n = 10) the defect of the donor site was repaired with a biosynthetic osteochondral plug, in Group B (n = 10) with an osteochondral autograft, while in Group C (control group of 10) rabbits were left untreated.

RESULTS: Twenty-four weeks postoperatively, smooth articular cartilage was found macroscopically in some trocleas’ surfaces; in all others, an articular surface with discontinuities was observed. Twenty-eight out of 30 animals were found with predominantly viable chondrocytes leaving the remaining two -which were found only in the control group- with partially viable chondrocytes. However, histology revealed many statistical differences between the groups as far as the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) categories are concerned. Immunofluoresence also revealed the presence of collagen II in all specimens of Group B, whereas in Group A collagen II was found in less specimens. In Group C collagen IIwas not found.

CONCLUSION: The matrix, cell distribution, subchondral bone and cartilage mineralization ICRS categories showed statistically differences between the three groups. Group A was second, while group B received the best scores; the control group got the worst ICRS scores in these categories. So, the donor site area, when repairing osteochondral lesions with autografting systems, is better amended with osteochondral autograft rather than bone graft substitute implant.

Keywords: Autografts; Synthetic plug; Osteochondral defects; Rabbit model; animal study; Donor site; Immunofluoresence; Histological evaluation; International Cartilage Repair Society score

Core tip: The donor site during the autografting process or during synthetic plugging when dealing with osteochondral defects is usually not well evaluated or addressed. This is an innovative original article, in which the donor site is repaired with autografts or synthetic plugs and after 24 wk it is histologically and immunohistochemically evaluated and compared.