P015 - Unicondylar Reconstruction Using an Aragonite Scaffold in a Caprine Model
Abstract
Purpose
This study was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of unicondylar reconstruction using an aragonite-based scaffold in a caprine model.
Methods and Materials
A single, large, oval-shaped, hemicondylar Agili-C scaffold was implanted in the right, medial femoral condyle (MFC) of six healthy, 60kg, mature, female, non-pregnant and non-lactating Saanen goats. The group was studied for 12 months after implantation. Follow-up involved clinical evaluation, X-ray imaging, macroscopic evaluation, micro-CT, GLP histology and immunohistochemistry evaluation. The results were compared to 7 goats that received a smaller, cylindrical- shaped Agili-C implant, in the medial femoral condyle (Figure 1).
Results
Macroscopic evaluation showed that the hemicondylar scaffold performed similarly to the cylindrical one, as represented by an average total score of both ICRS (with respective values of 10±1.5 vs 11.4 ± 0.8, Figure 2a) and modified Fortier et al. (with respective values of 12±2.0 vs 13.7±1.1, Figure 2b) assessments. Histological analysis indicated formation of hyaline cartilage and normal appearing subchondral bone (Figure 2).
Conclusion
This study supports that large Agili-C hemicondylar scaffolds are effective in reconstructing the condyle in a caprine model. The large scaffold was capable of overall reconstruction encompassing a large lesion of the femoral condyle in a similar fashion to the currently employed small cylindrical Agili-C implants. It may be concluded that aragonite-based scaffolds are able to repair much larger osteochondral defects than those presently treated with regenerative medicine.
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