Posters

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction Articular cartilage of higher animals does not regenerate, but under some circumstances mesenchymal cells can be inducted to behave phenotypically as chondrocytes. Tissue engineering has produced only partial cartilage repair and inconsistent outcomes. This study reports full thickness articular cartilage regeneration induced by freeze-dried particulate cartilage. Methods and Materials Full thickness cartilage defects in the femoral condyles of 22 baboons were filled with freeze-dried cartilage particles. Defects in two animals were filled with frozen cartilage particles. Four animals served as controls. Experimental animals were sacrificed at 2 weeks (2), 6 weeks (6), 9 weeks (1) 12 weeks (3), 14–16 weeks (4) and at 7 and 14 months. The knees were photographed and x-rayed. The condyles were frozen, sectioned, photographed again, fixed, decalcified and processed for histology. To determine if cartilage preparations were osteogenic samples were implanted intramusculary in 16 athymic rats. The specimens were examined at 1,2,4 & 8 weeks. Cartilage particles were also implanted intraosseously into 2 baboons. Regenerating cartilage was graded in accordance with a modified Mankin's method. Results Cartilage regeneration proceeded from the edges of the defect. The 12 week and older defects were covered with smooth and glistening new cartilage. Control defects remained ope

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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