Osteogenic ability of free perichondreal autografts in canine tibial defects: An experimental study

This study set out to establish the effect of transplanting perichondreum on bone healing at sites of tibial bone defects in an experimental dog model. Transplantation of free, autologous, non-vascularised, perichondreal grafts to the distal of right anteromedial plane side of the tibia was compared with non-transplantation on the proximal side of the same bone.

In experimental dogs (n = 7), a 5 cm piece segment of perichondreum, that has been excised from the thirteenth rib of the same animal, was transplanted to the middle defect fracture site of bone, but not to the control proximal defect fracture site.

The dogs were allowed to recover from the operation and were kept 21 days in cages, with free-range. On days 30 (Group I) and 45 (Group II) after operations, the dogs were euthanatized. Histopathologically, defects in 30 days treated perichondreum group were filled by new ossified tissue while control defects in the same period were not fully resurfaced. The new ossified tissue consisted of a thin and inadequate trabeculae. In 45 days treated groups, defects with transplanting perichondreum were filled by thick trabeculae converting into a compact bone tissue. The control defects of this group, however, were filled by an extreme callus overflowing to medulla and bone surface.

This study has provided evidence to show that autologous, non-vascularized perichondreum retains an osteogenic ability when transplanted to tibial bone defect sites. It appears that callus formation occurred within the perichondreum grafting which resembles that of enchondral and intramembranous ossification.