The healing of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits: successful results with fibroblast growth factor

This experimental study aims to compare the effects of three techniques; free autogenous periosteal graft, demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with periosteal graft on the healing of full thickness joint cartilage defects in rabbits.

This study used 87 adolescent 16 week-old New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, with an approximate weight of 2500-3750 g. The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups including a control group and three experimental groups. Cartilage defects were created in the posterior weight-bearing area of the medial femoral condyles of the rabbits. The surfaces of the osteochondral defects were covered with free autogenous periosteal graft, DBM and periosteal graft combined with bFGF in the experimental groups respectively. The rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed.

Periosteal grafts and DBM respond to the repair of cartilage defects in varying degrees. Although the macroscopic evaluation scores were higher in the bFGF group, there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05). The total scores on the histological grading scale were significantly higher in the bFGF group and control group than the other groups at 4(th) and 8(th) weeks (p<0.05). At the 12(th) week the total score was significantly higher in the bFGF group than the other three groups (p<0.05).

The application of bFGF promoted regeneration of articular cartilage and led to successful cartilaginous resurfacing of defects within 12 weeks. We suggest that bFGF when combined with periosteal grafts may have excellent repair capacity in the restoration of osteochondral defects.