The effect of platelet-rich plasma on osteochondral defects treated with mosaicplasty

This study investigated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on articular surfaces on which the mosaicplasty technique was performed. Our hypothesis was that PRP can accelerate the osseointegration process and enhance the quality of articular integrity after the mosaicplasty procedure.

Standard defects were created in the femoral groove of both patellofemoral joints of 12 New Zealand rabbits. PRP solution was placed inside the defect before fixation of the osteochondral autografts and injected inside the involved joint after capsular closure of the tested knees. The contralateral knees served as the control sides. The animals were euthanized three or six weeks after mosaicplasty, and both limbs were assessed according to Pineda's histological grading scale. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05 a priori, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.

Histologic findings at the interface between the transferred autograft and the original cartilage revealed better integration of the adjacent surfaces in the mosaicplasty with PRP group three weeks after the procedure; the difference was significant (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the transition zone was observed between the groups six weeks after the experiment (p = 0.59).

Our animal model showed that adjunctive use of PRP produced a better healing response and resulted in superior histological scores after three weeks compared with the mosaicplasty-only procedure. Interpretation of our results is important in terms of rapid return to previous activity levels. Thus, application of PRP can represent a valid therapeutic option for improving the efficacy of mosaicplasty by stimulating the local healing response.