ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate a periosteal autograft method to repair major defects of joint cartilage in rabbits of different ages. Methods Major cartilage defects of 52 rabbits aged 4 to 52 weeks were repaired with free periosteal grafts and the results were compared in the study. The regenerated cartilage by the cambium of periosteum growing up to the cavity of joint and that growing down to the cancellus of femur were also compared. Results The macroscopical and histological observations at different intervals showed that in young and adult rabbits the grafts could develop into cartilages to repair the major cartilage defects. In adult rabbits the newly formed cartilage was the same as the normal cartilage in thickness and histology. There was no difference between the cambium growing up to the cavity and that growing down to the cancellus. Conclusions Periosteum possesses chondrogenic potential and can be used to repair the cartilage defects. Different directions of chondrogenesis leads to no significantly different outcomes. In adult rabbits the newly formed cartilage can develop into a normal one.