Meniscal repair in the avascular zone with transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells: an experimental study / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the influence of autologous and allogenic bone marrow stromal cells for repairing meniscal injury in avascular zone. Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits were evenly divided into group A and B. The bone marrow stromal cells from group A rabbits were cultured and mixed with fibrin glue, forming graft. In group A, the graft was implanted into the meniscal injury zone in one side of the knees(autograft group), and only fibrin glue in another side(fibrin glue group). In group B, the graft was implanted into one side of knees (allograft group), and nothing was implanted into contralateral knees(control group). The rabbits were sacrificed 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery, and morphological study was done. Results In the autograft group, fibrous tissue containing a great deal of fibroblast appeared in the injured zone after 1 month, a large number of chondrocytes with formation of collagens were seen after 2 months, and the injuries healed up with fibrous cartilage after 3 months. In the control group, no healing was seen until 3 months. In the fibrin glue group, fibrous tissue was seen with a few fibroblasts, forming scar healing, but no chondrocyte. In the allograft group, the morphological appearance was similar with the autograft group. However, a large number of lymphocytes were seen in reparative tissue. Conclusion Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells can promote the healing of meniscal injury in avascular zone. Though the allograft of bone marrow stromal cells may induce rejection, its occurrence rate is lower. The allograft for repairing the meniscal injury is worthy of further study.