Periosteal and perichondral grafting in reconstructive surgery

Periosteum consists of multipotent mesodermal cells, and the influence of the environment on differentiation of cells of free periosteal grafts has been demonstrated in experimental studies. Periosteum has the capacity to form all varieties of connective tissue. The periosteum has osteogenic capacity, but it can also be used to promote cartilage formation in a chondrotrophic environment. Free periosteal grafts transplanted to the completely chondrectomized articular surfaces of patellae in experimental animals differentiated into cartilage. Joint motion appeared to be one of the chondrogenesis-promoting factors. The authors are optimistic about the potential clinical results with these types of grafts. Also, periosteal resurfacing of the metatarsal head was found to be suitable in the treatment of hallux rigidus and Freiberg's disease. Findings in growing rabbits showed that spinal fusion can be achieved with free periosteal grafts. This technique has been used to treat lumbar lytic spondylolisthesis in young patients, and the method produced clinical and radiologic results that were comparable with those obtained using bone transplants. This work indicates that some of the adverse effects of lumbar spinal fusion (e.g., postoperative spinal stenosis) can be avoided by using osteoperiosteal fusion. Also, periosteal grafting has proved useful in the treatment of thoracolumbar scoliosis. Free periosteal grafting has been used to treat congenital clefts of the maxilla and tracheal cartilage defects.