RESURFACING OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE DEFECT

Abstract

In this essay we discuss the different biological methods used in biological resurfacing of articular cartilage defects (especially in the knee joint) clinically and in experimental animals. In order to that we discuss in this essay the histology of articular cartilage as a preliminary step to know it's contour, composition and it's zones. Also spot light about the types of tissues used in articular resurfacing was done like:• 1- Periosteurm 2- Osteochondral autografts 3- Chondrocytes grafts 4- Osteochondral allografts 5- Perichondrium Because of the extremely limited potential of damaged cartilage for either repair or regeneration and the fact that prosthetic replacement is contra indicated for children and young active adult, the need exists for methods of producing biological resurfacing of large full thickness defect in diseased or damaged joint by transplantation of a tissue that has significant chondrogenic potential Various experimental approaches to biologic joint resurfacing have been tried including periosteal grafts, perichondral grafts, osteochondral allografts, osteochondral autograft_ and chondrocytes. The history of periosteal transplantation began with the study of ollier in 1967 and several researchers have confirmed that the cells of the cambium layer of the periosteum when detached from bone and transplanted in