Neochondrogenesis in repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects using free autogenous periosteal grafts in the rabbit. A follow-up in six months

Objective To analyse the repair of lesions of articular cartilage with periosteum-free implants and follow-up at 6 months. Design Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits, 4–6 weeks old, were used. Full-thickness articular cartilage defects in the medial femoral condyle were created. Spontaneous evolution occurred in 18 animals; the other 18 animals were treated with a free autogenous periosteal tibial implant fixed with Tissucol®. Animals were killed in groups of six at 8, 12 and 24 weeks. Macroscopic, histologic and histochemical results were evaluated and analysed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results The spontaneous evolution of the lesion did not lead to complete repair in any case. The periosteum-free implant provided complete repair of the lesion and statistically significant restoration of the articular surface. Conclusions In the rabbit, this study confirms the incomplete spontaneous repair of articular cartilage and the chondrogenic potential of tibial periosteum-free implants, with long-term maintenance of the macroscopic, histologic and histochemical characteristics of neo-cartilage. This raises the possibility of its use as an alternative method in the repair of circumscribed osteochondral lesions in young patients.