[Repair of cartilage defect of knee joints with free periosteal autograft].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical application of periosteal autograft in repair of cartilage defect caused by osteoarthritis of knee.

METHODS

From 1996 to 1999, 36 knees of cartilage defect of knee joint in 28 cases were treated. In the operation, the cracked degenerative cartilage was removed before free periosteum from tibia was transplanted to repair the defect, and the meniscuses in 8 kness of the 36 knees were reconstructed. After operation, early continuous passive movement was adopted for 4 weeks, and 8 knees with reconstruction of the meniscus were immobilized by plaster splint for 7 days after operation and before passive movement. All of the cases were followed up for 1 to 4 years before clinical evaluation in symptoms, signs and radiological findings.

RESULTS

The general satisfactory rate was 86.1%, in which the function was excellent in 22 knees and good in 9 knees.

CONCLUSION

The periosteal autograft is a good choice for repairing cartilage defect due to osteoarthritis, with a satisfactory outcome in the short term.