Use of a Biomimetic Scaffold for the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions in Early Osteoarthritis

Biomed Res Int. 2018 Nov 1:2018:7937089. doi: 10.1155/2018/7937089. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate clinical and radiographic outcomes of a biomimetic scaffold for the treatment of osteochondral knee lesions in patients with early OA. Study population was represented by 26 patients with a mean age of 44 years affected by early OA. Inclusion criteria were two episodes of knee pain for more than 10 days in the last year, Kellgren-Lawrence OA grade 0 or I or II, and arthroscopic findings of cartilage defects. Nineteen patients had a previous surgery, 11 of which were revision surgeries of osteochondral unit. All patients were treated with a biomimetic scaffold with a tri-layered structure of type I equine collagen and magnesium-enriched hydroxyapatite. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the IKDC, Lysholm, VAS, KOOS, and Tegner scores at baseline and at an average follow-up of 35 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at follow-up time in 19 patients. Clinical outcomes showed significant improvement in VAS, Lysholm, IKDC subjective score, and KOOS subscales in 69% of the patients. Complication rate of this cases series was 11%, with no surgical failure, although 31% of patients did not reach a significant improvement and were thus considered as clinical failure. MRI analysis showed integration of the scaffold only in 47% of the patients, with partial regeneration of the subchondral bone. No correlation between clinics and radiological images was found. The use of a biomimetic osteochondral scaffold in the setting of an early OA, alone or associated with other procedures, appeared to be a valid and safe option, able to provide good and stable clinical outcomes with high patient's satisfaction and low complication rate.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biomimetics*
  • Bone Development / drug effects
  • Collagen Type I / administration & dosage*
  • Collagen Type I / chemistry
  • Durapatite / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Knee Joint / drug effects
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Lysholm Knee Score
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / drug therapy*
  • Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
  • Osteoarthritis / surgery
  • Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain / surgery
  • Regeneration
  • Reoperation
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Durapatite