Bone marrow stimulation of the medial femoral condyle produces inferior cartilage and bone repair compared to the trochlea in a rabbit surgical model. Issue 11 (10th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Hongmei; Chevrier, Anik; Hoemann, Caroline D.; Sun, Jun; Picard, Genevieve; Buschmann, Michael D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthopaedic research. Volume 31:Issue 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1757
• Page End: 1764
• Publication Date: 2013-07-10
• Subjects: Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Periodicals; 616.7
• DOI: 10.1002/jor.22422
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-0266

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="jor22422-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>The influence of the location of cartilage lesions on cartilage repair outcome is incompletely understood. This study compared cartilage and bone repair in medial femoral condylar (MFC) versus femoral trochlear (TR) defects 3 months after bone marrow stimulation in mature rabbits. Intact femurs from adult rabbits served as controls. Results from quantitative histomorphometry and histological scoring showed that bone marrow stimulation produced inferior soft tissue repair in MFC versus TR defects, as indicated by significantly lower % Fill (<italic>p</italic> = 0.03), a significant increase in collagen type I immunostaining (<italic>p</italic> < 0.00001) and lower O'Driscoll scores (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). 3D micro‐CT analysis showed that repaired TR defects regained normal un‐operated values of bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number, whereas in MFC defects the repaired bone architecture appeared immature and less dense compared to intact un‐operated MFC controls (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). Severe medial meniscal damage was found in 28% of operated animals and was strongly correlated with (i) low cartilage defect fill, (ii) incomplete bone repair in MFC, and (iii) with a more posterior defect placement in the weight‐bearing region. We conclude that the location of cartilage lesions influences cartilage repair, with better outcome in TR versus MFC defects in rabbits. Meniscal degeneration is associated with cartilage damage. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1757–1764, 2013</p> </sec> </abstract>