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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 89-B, Issue 2,
258-264.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B2.17754 Copyright © 2007 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery Repair of osteochondral defects with a new porous synthetic polymer scaffoldI. Nagura, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; H. Fujioka, MD, Lecturer1; T. Kokubu, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; T. Makino, MD, Research Associate1; Y. Sumi, PhD, Group Leader, Senior Manager2; and M. Kurosaka, MD, Professor and Chairman1
1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. Correspondence should be sent to Dr H. Fujioka; e-mail: hfujioka{at}med.kobe-u.ac.jp
We developed a new porous scaffold made from a synthetic polymer, poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG), and evaluated its use in the repair of cartilage. Osteochondral defects made on the femoral trochlear of rabbits were treated by transplantation of the PLG scaffold, examined histologically and compared with an untreated control group. Fibrous tissue was initially organised in an arcade array with poor cellularity at the articular surface of the scaffold. The tissue regenerated to cartilage at the articular surface. In the subchondral area, new bone formed and the scaffold was absorbed. The histological scores were significantly higher in the defects treated by the scaffold than in the control group (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that in an animal model the new porous PLG scaffold is effective for repairing full-thickness osteochondral defects without cultured cells and growth factors.
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