@article{article_190420, title={The use of chondral rib in the treatment of articular cartilage defects}, journal={Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica}, volume={34}, pages={403–411}, year={2006}, DOI={10.3944/aott.v34i4.1810}, author={Bombaci, Hasan and Turkmen, Metin and Aker, Fugen and Bombaci, Elif}, keywords={Animal;cartilage, articular/injuries;cartilage diseases/surgery;collagen/analysis;knee joint/surgery;ribs;transplantation, autologous}, abstract={Objectives: Many different methods have been proposed for the repair of articular cartilage defects. Among these, cartilage transplantation is one of the most promising methods. We evaluated the use of rib cartilage transplantation in an animal model of induced defects in the distal femoral joint.
Methods: The study included 20 Wistar rats aged about 10 weeks. Femoral cartilage defects were induced surgically in both knees. Defects in the right knees were repaired using rib cartilage autografts. Rats were sacrificed in two equal groups at six and eight weeks. Histologic evaluation was made with regard to the integration of the grafts into the recipient site and the ensuing changes in the transplanted graft. The opposite knees were left untreated to be used as controls.
Results: At the end of six weeks, considerable integration of the graft into the recipient site was observed; however, it was easily distinguishable from the adjacent tissue. At the end of eight weeks, full consolidation of the graft with the recipient site was noted. Conclusion: Use of chondral rib autografts may be promising in repair of cartilage defects, with additional advantages of availability and less donor site morbidity. However, long-term endurance of this graft may warrant further studies.}, number={4}, publisher={Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology}