KNEE JOINT STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND INJECTIONS OF PLATELET RICH PLASMA AND BONE MARROW ASPIRATE...

The article presents the results of an experimental study on the knee joint structural changes and morphometric evaluation of articular cartilage with the injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC). Cartilage defect, anterior cruciate ligament intersection and medial meniscus resection were performed for the induction of osteoarthritis in rabbits. After 28 days, 0.9% NaCl, PRP or BMAC was administered intra-articularly; 0.9% NaCl or PRP was injected intra-articularly within 14 days. After 2 months, histological and morphometric examination of the epiphyseal surface of the femur and tibia was performed. Animal models showed identical diameter of epiphyseal cartilage defect, chondrocyte reduction (by 55.1%), reduction of perifocal articular surface thickness (by 53.2%) and relative bone density of epiphysis (by 44.3%). Modeling of the joint defect was not limited to the area of damage and caused degenerative changes of the articular cartilage of the tibia. Statistical analysis showed that the introduction of PRP had no preventive effect on the degenerative changes in the articular surface. In the BMAC group, the thickness of the hyaline cartilage of the tibia was found to be 23.1% (P<0.05) greater compared with the 0.9% NaCl group and the double PRP group. However, the relative density of subchondral bone tissue in the experimental groups with osteoarthritis had no differences.