| Objective: To evaluate the disparity of morphology and biomechanics between 12weeks repaired cartilage after autologous osteochondral transplantation and the normalarticular cartilage. Methods: A full-thickness cylindrical osteochondral defect(2.7mm indiameter and 4mm in depth) was made on the right knee femoral trochlea of 18 NewZealand white rabbits using the Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System(OATS).Thedefect was repaired with an same diameter and depth osteochondral plug taken from theproximal femoral trochlea using the OATS.The contralateral femoral trochlea was treatedas normal control.The repaired cartilage and the contralateral normal cartilage wereevaluated at postoperative 12 weeks. The cartilage specimens of 4 rabbits were stainedwith hematoxylin and eorin,toluidine blue and typeⅡcollagen immunohistochemistryrespectively, the histological structure and ultrastructure were examined under lightmicroscopy and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The cartilage samples of theother rabbits were tested in unconfined compression,the linear elastic model and the linearbiphasic model applied,and the Young's modulus,the equilibrium compressive modulus,the stress relaxation time and creep time were obtained.The paired t test was used toestimate the disparity and the dependability between the repaired cartilage and the normalcontrol. Results: The repaired cartilaginous structure under light microscopy were same asthe normal cartilage,but the formal ultrastructural changes were observed under TEM.Thebiomechanical properties of two groups did not statistically differ(P＜0.001),and werecorrelative significantly(P＜0.001). Conclusions: The short-term effects of repairedcartilage employing OATS are satisfying,but the long-term results need investigating further. |
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