Effect of fibrin glue and endothelial cell growth factor on the early healing response of the transplanted allogenic meniscus: a pilot study

Abstract

Twentyfour meniscal allotransplantations were conducted in 12 adult mongrel dogs. The medial meniscus was replaced using a deep-frozen meniscal allograft. The junction between the meniscus and capsule was treated in one of the three ways. In the control group, the meniscus was sutured only to the adjacent capsular tissue (group C). In the second group, fibrin glue was injected at the junction (group F), and in the third group, fibrin glue and endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) were injected at the juncture between the transplanted meniscus and the adjacent capsule before the meniscus was sutured (group FE). Histological observation was performed to investigate the effect of fibrin glue and ECGF on the healing process of transplants at various intervals of 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. No immunological response was noted in any of the knees. The healing of the transplanted meniscus was first observed at the peripheral attachment. Also, the pannus-like tissue extended from the synovium to the surface of the meniscus. The healing rate in each group at 1 week and 12 weeks was 22% and 77% in group C, 52% and 80% in group F, and 64% and 80% in group FE, respectively. At 4 and 8 weeks, early cellular repopulation was found in group FE and the area which contained new cells was larger than the acellular central core at 8 weeks. However, there was no difference among the three groups at 12 weeks. The early stage of regeneration of the transplanted meniscus seemed to be accelerated by the use of fibrin glue and ECGF; however, they had little influence on the long-term results. Few cells were found in the central portion of the transplanted meniscus even at 12 weeks.