Sonographic Evaluation of Knee Cartilage Defects Implanted With Preconditioned Scaffolds
Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
J Ultrasound Med
Abstract
Objectives-The purpose of this study was to develop a novel method for creating an acellular bioactive scaffold, to prove its efficacy in vivo and in vitro for the augmentation of biological repair, and to confirm that sonographic microscopy is a viable modality for monitoring the healing process of osteochondral defects implanted with preconditioned bioactive scaffolds. Methods-Rabbit marrow stromal cells were retrovirally transduced with either bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) or insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) genes, cultured for 9 weeks in nonwoven poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds, and then frozen and lyophilized. The knees were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery using 20-MHz ultrasound and then prepared for routine histologic analysis. B-scans of the extracellular matrix defects were compared to histologic results. Results-Control defects showed avoid or a mixture of fibrocartilage tissue. Both types of scaffolds resulted in a higher percentage (both P < .001) of primarily hyaline cartilage tissue with intact articular surfaces. The osteochondral defects were clearly observed in each sonographic signature. There were no differences between images of scaffolds treated with IGF-1 or BMP-7. Extracellular matrix regrowth was found to closely parallel (R-2 = 0.968; P < .003) the histologic images. A 3-mm defect depth and a 2.5-mm scaffold thickness were measured on the sonograms, comparing well to actual dimensions. Conclusions-There was a gradual increase in healing bordering the defects for the 3-, 6-, and 12-week samples. Also, we have shown that sonography can aid in monitoring implantation of preconditioned scaffolds in osteochondral defects and thus assessing the healing process and cartilage/bone quality.
Volume Number
33
Issue Number
7
Pages
1241-1253
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2014/06/25
Status
Faculty, Northwell Researcher
Facility
School of Medicine; Northwell Health
Primary Department
Molecular Medicine
Additional Departments
Orthopedic Surgery
PMID
DOI
10.7863/ultra.33.7.1241