[Long-term results after cartilage transplantation].

The authors' experimental work is concerned with the structure of articular cartilage after transplantation. In the medial condylus of the femur of the rabbit, bone-cartilage defects were produced and filled with bone-cartilage autografts and homografts preserved by different methods. At 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months after operation animals were sacrificed. The first phase of the healing process shows regressive processes. The second phase is marked by reactions of repair. The results of the experiment indicate that transplantation of cartilage can be regarded as a possibility of therapy in order to heal bone-cartilage lesions.