The aim of our study was to evaluate the mid-term outcome of a cell-free polymer-based cartilage repair approach in a sheep cartilage defect model in comparison to microfracture treatment. Cell-free, freeze-dried implants (chondrotissue) made of a poly-glycolic acid (PGA) scaffold and hyaluronan were immersed in autologous serum and used for covering microfractured full-thickness articular cartilage defects of the sheep (n = 4). Defects treated with microfracture only served as controls (n = 4). Six months after implantation, cartilage implants and controls were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen, histological staining of proteoglycans, and histological scoring. Histological analysis showed the formation of a cartilaginous repair tissue rich in proteoglycans. Histological scoring documented significant improvement of repair tissue formation when the defects were covered with the cell-free implant, compared to controls treated with microfracture. Immunohistochemistry showed that the cell-free implant induced cartilaginous repair tissue and type II collagen. Controls treated with microfracture showed marginal formation of a mixed-type repair tissue consisting of cartilaginous tissue and fibro-cartilage. Covering of microfractured defects with the cell-free polymer-based cartilage implant is suggested to be a promising treatment option for cartilage defects and improves the regeneration of articular cartilage.
(c) 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.