[Repair of articular cartilage defect with a large area: an experimental study].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and evaluate potentialities and biological characteristics of grafts of chondrocytes cultured on fascia, periosteum and articular cartilage in repairing large defects of articular cartilage. METHOD: The large defects of articular cartilage were repaired with grafts of freeze-stored and fresh chondrocytes cultured on fascia, periosteum and articular cartilage, which were evaluated by a number of observation methods. RESULT: The fresh and freeze-stored fascial chondrocytes were superior to free grafts of chondrocytes in potentiality of formation of new cartilaginous tissue, structure and metabolism of newly formed tissue. Relatively good results were also obtained similarly by using fresh autografts of periosteum and cartilage. CONCLUSION: Chondrocytes can be cultured normally on fascia, which can be regarded as an ideal carrier of chondrocytes.