Effect Of Pulsed Low-intensity Ultrasound (PLIUS) On Articular Cartilage Repair In Rabbits

Objective: To establish the model of bilateral patellar of the femur experimental animal chondral defect in rabbits, and the chondrocyte in vitro, exert definite intensity and frequency of pulsed low-intensity ultrasound (PLIUS) on rabbits, evaluated the effect of ultrasound therapy on the repair of full-thickness osteochondral defects. Discussing whether PLIUS can be used as an uninvasved method to enhance the repair of articular cartilage and to delay the degeneration of the newly cartilage.Method: Bilateral, 3.5 mm diameter by 5.0 mm deep osteochondral defects were created in the patellar groove of 24 adult female New Zealand rabbits. The defects were treated with 20 minutes daily low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy on the left knee. The right knee was not treated. The effect of ultrasound therapy was evaluated at 2,4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery. The repair cartilage was evaluated and graded on a standard scale for the gross and histologic appearance. We also observe the effect of PLIUS in cell lever, observe the effect to the extra celler matrix (ECM).Results: Ultrasound treatment improved the morphologic features and histologic characteristics of the repair cartilage compared with nontreated controls. Earlier, better repair with less degenerative changes at later times was observed in defects treated with ultrasound. PLIUS even have the effect of upregulation of the ECM of tissue engineering Chondrocyte.Conclusions: In the current animal model, daily low-intensity pulsed ultrasound had a significant positive effect on the healing of osteochondral defects . The main way of it may be synthesize the GAG and type â…¡ collagen.