Cartilage formation from perichondrium in a weight-bearing joint. An experimental study

In 30 young and 20 adult rabbits a standard defect was made in the cartilage of both lateral tibial plateaus. Spontaneous healing on the left side was compared with healing after transplantation of an auricular perichondrial graft on the other. The latter was fixed in two different ways. Autologous perichondrial grafts result in repair of the articular cartilage, in young as well as in adult animals, provided that the chondral side of the graft is directed to the joint cavity. The different findings in both age groups are discussed.