The early development of articular cartilage after perichondrial grafting

In an experimental series of 39 rabbits the articular cartilage of the femur condyles was resected and the defect covered by a perichondrial graft from rib cartilage. The graft was fixed to the bony surface by using Tisseal (Immuno AG) and the joint was immobilized for two weeks. Beginning 24 hours postoperatively the neochondrogenesis from the perichondrial graft was analyzed histologically, sacrificing the rabbits with 48 hours interval. The fibrin glue acted as a visible border line between the bony surface and the graft. No vascular proliferations penetrated the fibrin glue, indicating that the perichondrial graft must be nourished by the synovial fluid only. The neochondrogenesis was found to occur in the median and fibrous layer of the graft.