One stage osteochondral repair with autologous cartilage fragments in a hybrid scaffold: in vitro and in vivo animal model

This study shows a new “one-stage” surgical procedure for cartilage repair combining in situ minced autologous cartilage fragments, as source of viable cells and chondrogenic stimuli, with a resorbable scaffold composed of fibrin glue and high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid derivative (HA). Goat, rabbit and human chondrocytes outgrowth from cartilage fragments into the scaffold was demonstrated in vitro in cartilage explant cultures. Repair process of in vivo rabbit model showed improved cartilage healing of treated defects, compared to scaffold alone, and presence of collagen type II in the treated defects. The study suggests that autologous cartilage fragments embedded in our HA/fibrin resorbable scaffold provide a viable source of cells and chondrogenic stimuli for a one-stage non-culture based repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects.