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This study aimed to evaluate the short- and mid-term results of plica excision in patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration. Seventy-six surgically treated patients with mediopatellar plica and associated cartilage degeneration at medial femoral condyle (MFC) and/or medial pole of patella were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline, at 6 weeks and 6 months after the operation for their clinical outcomes and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. The frequency of all signs and symptoms, including all pain parameters, and WOMAC scores were significantly improved compared to baseline, at 6 weeks and 6 months after the operation (P < 0.017). Based on mean WOMAC scores, results of most patients were rated as excellent both at 6 weeks (88%) and at 6 months (94%). Surgical excision of mediopatellar plica associated with cartilage degeneration appears to result in substantial clinical improvement, thus it represents an effective treatment modality.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous local Insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in immature rabbits.Thirty-six skeletally immature New Zealand rabbits between 6 and 8 weeks old were used. A single defect, 3.5-mm-wide by 4-mm-deep full-thickness articular cartilage defect in the medial femoral condyle, was created. The defect was either filled with a collagen sponge or with a collagen sponge impregnated with 5 mug of recombinant IGF-I. The animals were sacrificed at 4, 8 or 12 weeks, and the repair tissue was examined macroscopically and histologically. Repair tissue was also examined immunohistochemically for the presence of type-I collagen, type-II collagen and PCNA at all weeks.Newly formed tissue in all of the defects in the IGF-I group had the gross, histological and histochemical appearance of a smooth, intact hyaline articular cartilage. The average total scores on the histological grading scale were significantly better (p0.05) for the defects treated with recombinant IGF-I at all time points. Immunostaining with an antibody against type-II collagen showed the diffuse presence of the repair cartilage in the IGF-I treated defects. The control groups demonstrated minimum staining with type-II collagen antibody.These findings suggest that repair of full-thickness immature cartilage defects can be enhanced by recombinant IGF-I.