Fixation of tissue-engineered human neocartilage constructs with human fibrin in a caprine model

The primary objective of this study was to determine the retention rate of neocartilage constructs in caprine full-thickness cartilage defects by fibrin sealant alone. Two defects, one each on the trochlea and the medial femoral condyle, were created in the stifle joint in 12 goats. Eight goats (16 defects) were treated with neocartilage constructs and 4 goats (8 defects) with fibrin glue alone. Postoperative activity was protected weight bearing for 6 weeks and then unrestricted for 18 weeks. At 24-week procurement, 4 neocartilage constructs were retained in 8 medial femoral defects and 4 in 8 trochlear defects. In gross comparison, the defects that retained the construct had a mean grade significantly higher than defects treated with fibrin glue alone. The mean histological score of defects with retained constructs was also higher than those treated with fibrin sealant alone. There was no appreciable immunologic reaction to the human neocartilage xenograft or human fibrin sealant.