Obliteration of traumatically induced articular surface defects using a porous implant

Trauma to articular surfaces penetrating through the subchondral bone can result in areas of incomplete healing. Intraarticular adhesions can originate from these loci of disorganized fibrous bone and cartilage and, along with the incongruous surface, limit motion. In a group of 28 white New Zealand rabbits, 44 standard size defects were created in the prepatellar intercondylar femoral grooves. Twenty-seven were filled with Proplast, a porous implant material. Seventeen were left as controls. The animals were killed at intervals from 3 to 51 weeks. The implant areas were studied grossly and histologically. Granulation outgrowth and adhesions were not seen. From 12 weeks on, normal-appearing hyaline cartilage covered the surface, and bone ingrowth was found within the implant.