ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We observed the chondrogenic potential of demineralized bovine cancellous bone (Osteovit(R)) in the repair of osteochondral defects of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full-thickness osteochondral defects of 3.3mm in diameter and 6mm in depth were created on the medial femoral condyle of the knee joint of 36 skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits. In the right knee, the defect was filled with the demineralized bovine cancellous bone matrix (Osteovit(R)), and in the left knee, the defect was left untreated as a control. At postoperative 3, 6 and 12 weeks, the quality of repair tissue was evaluated by Pineda's semiquantative histological grading scale system. The inflammatory reaction was evaluated by observing the granuloma, foreign body type giant cell, infiltration of inflammatory cell, foreign body and fibrosis. RESULTS: The defects that were filled with demineralized bone matrix showed poorer repair results and more severe inflammatory reaction than the untreated defects, at postoperative 3, 6 weeks. The demineralized bone matrix was completely absorbed after 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The demineralized bovine cancellous bone (Osteovit(R)) was not helpful for the regeneration of the osteochondral defect of the articular cartilage in rabbit. Remarkable inflammatory reaction to the heterogenic material seemed to be the main cause of the poorer regeneration of the osteochondral defect filled with bovine bone matrix.