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Quality of scaffold fixation in a human cadaver knee model.

Authors :: Bekkers JE
Tsuchida AI
Malda J
Creemers LB
Castelein RJ
Saris DB
Dhert WJ
Source :: Osteoarthritis and cartilage [Osteoarthritis Cartilage] 2010 Feb; Vol. 18 (2), pp. 266-72. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Sep 22.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: Objective: Newly developed regenerative cartilage interventions based on the application of 3D-scaffolds require a further evaluation of the surgical techniques involved. The present study compared four different scaffold fixation techniques [fibrin glue (FG), transosseous (TS) fixation, biodegradable pin (BP) fixation and continuous cartilage sutures (CS)] to implant a custom-printed porous PEOT/PBT1000/70/30 scaffold in a human cadaver knee model.<br />Methods: After implantation, the knees were subjected to a vertically oriented loaded continuous passive motion (CPM) protocol. The fixation techniques were evaluated after 60 and a subsequent 150 motion cycles, focusing on area coverage, outline attachment and scaffold integrity. After the total of 210 cycles, also an endpoint fixation test was performed.<br />Results: The fixation techniques revealed marginal differences for area coverage and outline attachment after 60 and 150 cycles. The FG scored higher on scaffold integrity compared to TS (P<0.05) and CS (P=0.01). Endpoint fixation was highest for the CS, whereas FG showed a weak final fixation strength (P=0.01).<br />Conclusions: This study showed that optimal fixation cannot be combined always with high scaffold integrity. Special attention devoted to scaffold properties in relation to the fixation technique may result in an improvement of scaffold fixation, and thus clinical cartilage regenerative approaches involving these scaffolds.<br /> (Copyright 2009 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)