| Objective. To develop an in vitro model aimed at studying edge integration of articular cartilage repairs for osteochondral defects.;Design. Bovine tissue was used in order to create various defects in order to treat with enzymes (hyaluronidase and chymopapain). Many models were attempted to develop a desired one. Confocal microscopy and histological analysis were used.;Results. The cartilage injured with a scalpel/razor blade had less cell death near the edge of the injury than if injured with a biopsy punch. The cell density near injury was not significantly different for any of the cutting devices. Enzyme did not appear to have a dramatic effect on edge integration, zone of cell death, or cell density.;Conclusion. An in vitro model is needed to learn more about cartilage. The model developed here can do this for some of the properties necessary to study edge integration. |
