Experimental Research On The Repair Of Articular Cartilage Defects Using Microfracture And Insulin-like Growth Factor-I

Objective 1) To observe the effect of combination of microfracture and insulin-like growth factor-I for the treatment of focal full thickness articular cartilage lesions in rabbits, to improve the composition of chondrocytes, content of proteaglycan and collagen type II in the extracellular matrix of the repair tissues .2) To compare the effect of using microfracture or insulin-like growth factor-I respectively for repair of full thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits.Methods 50 New Zealand White rabbits, age from four to six months ,weight from 2.5 to 5kg, were randomly divided into five groups according to 20 knee joints in every group. Full thickness articular cartilage defects of 6mmx8mm were created over the articular surface of both the femoral condyles ,in depth until had punctate hemorrhage in 40 rabbits of group A,B,C and D. Group A: the microfracture were enforced over the defects with a Kirschner wire which was 1mm in diameter. The 15 holds were drilled respectively over the defects, until blood spilled from the medullary cavity. IGF-I was injected into the knee cavity (1μg /time) ,thrice weekly for 4 weeks after operation. Group B: the microfracture were created over the articular cartilage defects as the group A, but saline was injected into the knee cavity ,the dose and times as group A. Group C: the microfracture weren't created over the articular cartilage defects, but IGF-I was injected into the knee cavity as group A. Group D: the microfracture weren't created over the articular cartilage defects, saline was injected into the knee cavity as group B. Group E: full thickness articular cartilage defects were created on one side knees(5 right knees and 5 left knees), microfracture were enforced over the defects and IGF-I was injected into the knee cavity as group A. The rabbits of group A,B,C and D were...