A histological comparison of the repair tissue formed when using either Chondrogide® or periosteum during autologous chondrocyte implantation

McCarthy, H.S.; Roberts, S.

Abstract

Objective
In this study, we compare the clinical and histological outcome between periosteum and Chondrogide® during autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).

Method
This study consisted of 88 patients having received ACI in the knee; 33 treated with Chondrogide® (ACI-C) and 55 with periosteum (ACI-P). Post-operative biopsies were taken at a mean of 16.6 ± 8 months (range 7–37 months) and 19 ± 18.4 months (range 4–114) for ACI-C and ACI-P respectively. Histological assessment was performed using the ICRS II and OsScore scoring systems. The immunolocalisation of elastin and collagen types I and II was analysed using specific antibodies. Lysholm scores, a measure of knee function, were obtained pre- and post-operatively at the time of biopsy and annually thereafter.

Results
Compared with ACI-P, the repair tissue formed from patients treated with ACI-C demonstrated a significantly higher score for cellular morphology (ICRS II score), significantly better surface morphology from medial femoral condyle treated defects (ICRS II score) and a significantly higher proportion of hyaline cartilage formation (OsScore). Elastin fibres were present in both ACI-C and ACI-P samples, although their presence was very variable in quantity, distribution, orientation, thickness and length. Patients treated with ACI-C demonstrated significantly more collagen type II immunolocalisation compared with ACI-P. Both groups exhibited a significant increase in Lysholm score post-ACI.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates a significantly better quality of repair tissue formed with ACI-C compared with ACI-P. Hence Chondrogide® is perhaps a better alternative to periosteum during ACI.

Citation

McCarthy, H., & Roberts, S. (2013). A histological comparison of the repair tissue formed when using either Chondrogide® or periosteum during autologous chondrocyte implantation. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 21(12), 2048-2057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 6, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Oct 23, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2023
• Journal: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
• Print ISSN: 1063-4584
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2048-2057
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.004
• Keywords: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; Biomedical Engineering; Rheumatology
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: A histological comparison of the repair tissue formed when using either Chondrogide® or periosteum during autologous chondrocyte implantation; Journal Title: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.004; Content Type: article; Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.