Experimental Study On Acute Effect Of Treatment In Articular Cartilage Lesion By Radiofrequency Energy

【Objective】Radiofrequency energy (RFE) is used to treat the articular cartilage injury in recent years, but there are many argues of energy settings of bipolar RFE for using in clinical. We want to investigate the acute effect of different energy settings of bipolar RFE on treating cartilage lesion (gradeⅡ) in this study, and sensitive method for detecting cell activity was selected to estimate the safety of using. Getting the relationship between different energy settings of bipolar RFE and activity of chondrocyte, and we want to get the optimal project between RFE intensity and curative effect.【Methods】Selecting fresh bovine joints and establishing cartilage lesions (gradeⅡ) according to classification of Outerbridge on the surface of internal and external femoral condyle, then treated by the bipolar RFE instrument on different energy settings(30W, 50W, 70W, 90W, 110W)for 30 seconds, at the same time setting the control group, there were six groups. After general observation, taking off all layers of cartilage for different detection; HE staining observing the level which empty lacunae at cartilage lacuna appeared, to analysis the effect of cartilage damage depth which relate to different energy settings of RFE; SEM were observed to detect the cartilage surface, then the SEM Grading System to evaluate cartilage surface; and the release of GAG to test the activity of chondrocytes, to analysis the influence of cartilage activity which relate to different energy settings of RFE.【Results】The color of cartilage after treatment was aggravating, and the surface was more and more smooth. The empty lacunae at cartilage lacuna gradually increased on HE staining, the depth which empty lacunae at cartilage lacuna appeared gradually increased. A smooth surface could be seen after treatment on SEM observation, and the collagen fibers were melted, the SEM Grading System to evaluate cartilage surface after treatment, they were smoother than the control group (P < 0.05), the cartilage surface of 30W group, 50W group and 70W group were more and more smooth(P<0.05), the cartilage surface of 70W group, 90W group and 110W group were similar (P > 0.05). The GAG release rate was gradually reduction (P < 0.05), activity of chondrocyte was decreasing with the increase of RFE.【Conclusion】It was confirmed that the quality of surface was improved after treatment, the surface of cartilage was smoother, but with the increase of RFE, the empty lacunae at cartilage lacuna gradually increased, the depth which empty lacunae at cartilage lacuna appeared gradually increased, and the activity of chondrocytes gradually reduced. Therefore, in clinical, 70W of the RFE settings could achieve the therapeutic effect, increasing the RFE again could take more damage to chondrocytes.