Effect of lyophilized heterologous collagen on new cartilage formation from perichondrial flaps in rabbits: an experimental study.

New cartilage formation originated from perichondrium has previously been researched in many clinical and experimental studies. 1-6 After these studies, the use of perichondrium for the repair of cartilage defects has been used clinically when enhancing neochondrogenesis has been found to be of great value in decreasing the recovery period. Collagen is the major protein of whole connective tissue, and in vitro positive effects of collagen matrices on neochondrogenesis have also been studied before. 7-9 In this experimental study, in vivo effects of heterologous collagen sponge in perichondrial neochondrogenesis were examined in an animal model, and acceleration and enhancement effects were observed.