J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1975 Dec;10(4):442-449. 10.4055/jkoa.1975.10.4.442.

Experimental Studies on Fresh Patellar Osteochondral Allotransplantation in Rabbits

• Yoon SC
• Moon MS

• KMID: 2471412
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1975.10.4.442

Abstract

This experiment was performed in order to compare the result of fresh patellar osteochondral allotransplantation in rabbits with that of autotransplantation, on which one of the authors had reported previously. In adult rabbits weighing 2-2.5kg, the right knee was exposed through anteromedial incision and the patella was obtained for graft. All soft tissues attached to the patella were trimmed off. The cortical bone of the patella was also removed from its anterior surface but the subchondral bone, no more than 3mm in its thickness, was left. Thus, a patellar graft, consisting of the articular cartilage and its subchondral bone, was made. This patellar graft was fitted into the artificial osteochondral defect of another rabbit which was made at the medial tibial condyle. After the transplantation, a long leg plaster cast was applied for 3 weeks to the grafted limb with the knee and ankle in 90 degrees of flexion. The 21 experimental animals were sacrificed at one, two, three, four, six, eight and ten weeks after transplantation. The fates of the grafts were investigated through the roentgenographic and histological examinations. The results of this experiment were as follows: 1. The osteocyte in grafted bone remained viable by the end of 5 weeks after transplantation. At the end of 6 weeks blood vessels which invaded the grafted subchondral bone just beneath the articular cartilage were regressed, and bone absorption and empty lacunae by osteoclast were noted. At the end of 8 weeks after transplantation, the grafted bone was replaced completely with new bone by creeping substitution. 2. The grafted articular cartilage survived till the end of 4 weeks after transplantation. At the end of 6 weeks, decrease in cartilage stain. Irregularity of cartilage, disarrangement of chondrocytes and fibroblastic invasion from the subchondral bone toward the tide mark were noted. At the end of 8 weeks, erosion, fibrillation and cloning of superficial cartilage cells were noted and fibroblastic invasion toward the tide mark was more advanced.

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Adult
Animals
Ankle
Autografts
Blood Vessels
Cartilage
Cartilage, Articular
Casts, Surgical
Chondrocytes
Clone Cells
Cloning, Organism
Extremities
Fibroblasts
Humans
Knee
Leg
Osteoclasts
Osteocytes
Patella
Rabbits*
Transplantation, Autologous
Transplants

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. At the end of the first week after grafting, there were 110 empty lacunae in the grafted articular cartilage stndl its subchondral bone. Organizing hematoma filled the gap between thç graft and host bone. (Hematoxylin-eosin 40X)

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  Fig. 2. At the en4 of the second wççk after graftihg cellular survival was noted. The organizing· hematoma of graft site was replaced with granulation tissue. (Hematoxylin-eosin 40X)

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  Fig. 3- At the end of the third wçek after grafting, cellular survival was noted. Many blood vessels invaded the grafted subchondral bone as far as just beneath the articular cartilage. Union of the graft and host bone was established with irregulary arranged new bone. (Hematoxylin-eosin 40X)

• 

  Fig. 4. At the end of the sixth week after grafting, no cellular survival was noted. Blood vessels which invaded the grafted subchondral bone just beneath the articular cartilage were regreşsed. Decrease in cartilage stain, irregularity of cartilage cell, and disarrangement of chondrocyte and fibroblastic invasion from subchondral bone toward the tide mark were noted. (Hematoxylin-eosin 40X)

• 

  Fig. 5. At the end of the eight week after grafting, no bony absorption was found. The grafted bone was replaced completely with new bone, so that it was difficult to distinguish the graft from the host bone. The erosion, fibrillation, and cloning of superficial cartilage cells were noted. Fibrobeastic invasion from subchondral bone toward the tide mark was more advanced than before. (Hematoxylin-eosin 100X)

• 

  Fig. 6. Anteroposterior and lateral views of the grafted knee. At the end of the 6th week after grafting, the density of the gap, between the graft and host bone, was increased. Radiogicl inequality of the height of both medial and lateral condyles is the byproduct of equlization of the articular surfaces of toth condyles which have different cartilage thickness.

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  Fig. 7. At the end of the 8 week, union was so complete that it was difficult to identify the graft site.

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