The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of perichondrial
grafts in articular cartilage defects and to characterize the newly formed
cartilage. In a rabbit model, rib perichondrium was used to repair
full-thickness defects in the femoral condyle. The quality of repair was
then evaluated histologically and biochemically at six and twelve weeks
after grafting. Unacceptable results were obtained in 50 per cent of the
rabbits. These failures were due to condylar fracture in 20 per cent,
failure of graft attachment in 20 per cent, and infection in 10 per cent.
The technique of grafting must be improved to increase the percentage of
successful grafts in which neocartilage with a relatively normal chemical
composition fills the articular cartilage defect. Successful grafts
proliferate to fill the full-thickness defect with neocartilage, which has
biochemical characteristics that are similar to those of hyaline
cartilage.