An investigation of the suitability of the peri-articular osteophyte as autogenous grafts for the repair of articular surface defects

Osteophytes are intra-articular osteochondral outgrowths commonly found at the margins of synovial joints in response to a more central full thickness articular cartilage defects (FTCD). These defects are a significant cause of morbidity and it is probable that if left untreated they may lead to degenerative arthropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of osteophytes as repair tissues for FTCD. To effect a satisfactory repair, osteophytes should exhibit features that are similar to normal articular cartilage.;Compressive and shear stiffness values of 'white' osteophytes compared favourably with that of normal articular cartilage; the cartilage mantle of osteophyte has identical types and disposition of native collagen as are seen in normal articular cartilage; histological stains reveals hyaline like cartilage in the cartilage mantle of osteophytes; the chondrocytes in the cartilage mantle of osteophytes can be grown in monolayer culture and three-dimensional culture systems and in these culture systems, these cells behave like normal articular cartilage chondrocytes and the western blot analysis points to a cartilaginous ancestry for peri-articular osteophytes.;The localised expression of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and c-fos in the chondrocytes in the deep layer of osteophyte cartilage mantle suggests that there are two types of cartilage in this cartilage mantle; resorbable and permanent. C-myc expression in the entire cartilage mantle of the peri-articular osteophyte is suggestive of an actively proliferating and hence probably reparative tissue.;Osteophytes may be suitable materials for grafting FTCD either as an osteochondral or cellular graft.