In order to repair cartilage defect in joint with transplantation of cryopreserved homologous embryonic periosteum, 30 rabbits were used and divided into two groups. A 4 mm x 7 mm whole thickness cartilage defect was made in the patellar groove of femur of each rabbit. The homologous embryonic rabbit skull periosteum (ERSP), preserved in two-step freezing schedule, was transplanted onto the cartilage defect of joints of one group and autogenous periosteal graft was done in the joint defect of the other group. The knees were not immobilized, following operation and 16 weeks later, the newly formed tissue in the defects were assessed by gross observation, histochemical examination and biochemical analysis. The results showed that new hyaline-like cartilage was formed in the cryopreserved ERSP grafted knee, and had no significant difference from that of the knee receiving autogenous periosteal graft, but had significant difference from that of the fresh ERSP grafted knee and the non-grafted knee. Furthermore, the new hyaline-like cartilage had the biochemical characteristics of a fibrous cartilage. The conclusion was that this method might be feasible to repair articular cartilage defects.
It is very difficult to repair large articular cartilage defect of the hip. From May 1990 to April 1994, 47 hips in 42 patients of large articuler cartilage defects were repaired by allograft of skull periosteum. Among them, 14 cases, whose femoral heads were grade. IV necrosis, were given deep iliac circumflex artery pedicled iliac bone graft simultaneously. The skull periosteum had been treated by low tempreturel (-40 degrees C) before and kept in Nitrogen (-196 degrees C) till use. During the operation, the skull periosteum was sutured tightly to the femoral head and sticked to the accetabulum by medical ZT glue. Thirty eight hips in 34 patients were followed up for 2-6 years with an average of 3.4 years. According to the hip postoperative criteria of Wu Zhi-kang, 25 cases were excellent, 5 cases very good, 3 cases good and 1 case fair. The mean score increased from 6.4 before operation to 15.8 after operation. The results showed, in compare with autograft of periosteum for biological resurface of large articular defect, this method is free of donor-site morbidity. Skull periosteum allograft was effective for the treatment of large articular cartilage defects in hip.