Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Material Properties of Fresh Cold-stored Allografts for Osteochondral Defects at 1 Year

  • Symposium: New Approaches to Allograft Transplantation
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

Little is known about the long-term properties of fresh cold-stored osteochondral allograft tissue. We hypothesized fresh cold-stored tissue would yield superior material properties in an in vivo ovine model compared to those using freeze-thawed acellular grafts. In addition, we speculated that a long storage time would yield less successful grafts. We created 10-mm defects in medial femoral condyles of 20 sheep. Defects were reconstructed with allograft plugs stored at 4°C for 1, 14, and 42 days; control specimens were freeze-thawed or defect-only. At 52 weeks, animals were euthanized and retrieved grafts were analyzed for cell viability, gross morphology, histologic grade, and biomechanical and biochemical analysis. Explanted cold-stored tissue had superior histologic scores over freeze-thawed and defect-only grafts. Specimens stored for 1 and 42 days had higher equilibrium moduli and proteoglycan content than freeze-thawed specimens. We observed no difference among any of the cold-stored specimens for chondrocyte viability, histology, equilibrium aggregate modulus, proteoglycan content, or hypotonic swelling. Reconstructing cartilage defects with cold-stored allograft resulted in superior histologic and biomechanical properties compared with acellular freeze-thawed specimens; however, storage time did not appear to be a critical factor in the success of the transplanted allograft.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2A–C
Fig. 3A–F
Fig. 4A–D
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allen RT, Robertson CM, Pennock AT, Bugbee WD, Harwood FL, Wong VW, Chen AC, Sah RL, Amiel D. Analysis of stored osteochondral allografts at the time of surgical implantation. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33:1479–1484.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Amiel D, Coutts RD, Abel M, Stewart W, Harwood FL, Akeson WH. Rib perichondrial grafts for the repair of full-thickness articular-cartilage defects. A morphological and biochemical study in rabbits. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985;67:911–920.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Amiel D, Coutts RD, Harwood FL, Ishizue KK, Kleiner JB. The chondrogenesis of rib perichondrial grafts for repair of full thickness articular cartilage defects in a rabbit model: a one year postoperative assessment. Connect Tissue Res. 1988;18:27–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Aubin PP, Cheah HK, Davis AM, Gross AE. Long-term followup of fresh femoral osteochondral allografts for posttraumatic knee defects. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001;391(Suppl):S318–327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. AVMA Panel on Euthanasia, American Veterinary Medical Association. 2000 Report of the. AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;218:669–696.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bakay A, Csonge L, Papp G, Fekete L. Osteochondral resurfacing of the knee joint with allograft. Clinical analysis of 33 cases. Int Orthop. 1998;22:277–281.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ball ST, Amiel D, Williams SK, Tontz W, Chen AC, Sah RL, Bugbee WD. The effects of storage on fresh human osteochondral allografts. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004;418:246–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bayne O, Langer F, Pritzker KP, Houpt J, Gross AE. Osteochondral allografts in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the knee. Orthop Clin North Am. 1985;16:727–740.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Beaver RJ, Mahomed M, Backstein D, Davis A, Zukor DJ, Gross AE. Fresh osteochondral allografts for post-traumatic defects in the knee. A survivorship analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992;74:105–210.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Borazjani BH, Chen AC, Bae WC, Patil S, Sah RL, Firestein GS, Bugbee WD. Effect of impact on chondrocyte viability during insertion of human osteochondral grafts. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88:1934–1943.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bugbee WD, Convery FR. Osteochondral allograft transplantation. Clin Sports Med. 1999;18:67–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen AC, Bae WC, Schinagl RM, Sah RL. Depth- and strain-dependent mechanical and electromechanical properties of full-thickness bovine articular cartilage in confined compression. J Biomech. 2001;34:1–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen CT, Bhargava M, Lin PM, Torzilli PA. Time, stress, and location dependent chondrocyte death and collagen damage in cyclically loaded articular cartilage. J Orthop Res. 2003;21:888–898.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Chen CT, Fishbein KW, Torzilli PA, Hilger A, Spencer RG, Horton WE Jr. Matrix fixed-charge density as determined by magnetic resonance microscopy of bioreactor-derived hyaline cartilage correlates with biochemical and biomechanical properties. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48:1047–1056.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chu CR, Coutts RD, Yoshioka M, Harwood FL, Monosov AZ, Amiel D. Articular cartilage repair using allogeneic perichondrocyte-seeded biodegradable porous polylactic acid (PLA): a tissue-engineering study. J Biomed Mater Res. 1995;29:1147–1154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Convery FR, Akeson WH, Amiel D, Meyers MH, Monosov A. Long-term survival of chondrocytes in an osteochondral articular cartilage allograft. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996;78:1082–1088.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Convery FR, Botte MJ, Akeson WH, Meyers MH. Chondral defects of the knee. Contemp Orthop. 1994;28:101–107.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Convery FR, Meyers MH, Akeson WH. Fresh osteochondral allografting of the femoral condyle. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991;273:139–245.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Curl WW, Krome J, Gordon ES, Rushing J, Smith BP, Poehling GG. Cartilage injuries: a review of 31,516 knee arthroscopies. Arthroscopy. 1997;13:456–460.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Custers RJ, Creemers LB, Verbout AJ, van Rijen MH, Dhert WJ, Saris DB. Reliability, reproducibility and variability of the traditional Histologic/Histochemical Grading System vs the new OARSI Osteoarthritis Cartilage Histopathology Assessment System. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2007;15:1241–1248.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Czitrom AA, Keating S, Gross AE. The viability of articular cartilage in fresh osteochondral allografts after clinical transplantation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1990;72:574–581.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Davidson PA, Rivenburgh DW, Dawson PE, Rozin R. Clinical, histologic, and radiographic outcomes of distal femoral resurfacing with hypothermically stored osteoarticular allografts. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:1082–1090.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Emmerson BC, Gortz S, Jamali AA, Chung C, Amiel D, Bugbee WD. Fresh osteochondral allografting in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyle. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:907–914.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Enneking WF, Campanacci DA. Retrieved human allografts: a clinicopathological study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2001;83:971.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Enneking WF, Mindell ER. Observations on massive retrieved human allografts. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991;73:1123–1142.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Farmer JM, Martin DF, Boles CA, Curl WW. Chondral and osteochondral injuries. Diagnosis and management. Clin Sports Med. 2001;20:299–320.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Fitzpatrick PL, Morgan DA. Fresh osteochondral allografts: a 6–10-year review. Aust N Z J Surg. 1998;68:573–579.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Friedlaender GE, Mankin HJ. Transplantation of osteochondral allografts. Annu Rev Med. 1984;35:311–324.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Friedlaender GE, Strong DM, Tomford WW, Mankin HJ. Long-term follow-up of patients with osteochondral allografts. A correlation between immunologic responses and clinical outcome. Orthop Clin North Am. 1999;30:583–588.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Garrett JC. Fresh osteochondral allografts for treatment of articular defects in osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral femoral condyle in adults. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1994;303:33–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Goldring MB, Goldring SR. Osteoarthritis. J Cell Physiol. 2007;213:626–634.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gole MD, Poulsen D, Marzo JM, Ko SH, Ziv I. Chondrocyte viability in press-fit cryopreserved osteochondral allografts. J Orthop Res. 2004;22:781–787.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gortz S, Bugbee WD. Allografts in articular cartilage repair. Instr Course Lect. 2007;56:469–580.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Gross AE, Aubin P, Cheah HK, Davis AM, Ghazavi MT. A fresh osteochondral allograft alternative. J Arthroplasty. 2002;17(Suppl 1):50–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Gross AE, McKee NH, Pritzker KP, Langer F. Reconstruction of skeletal deficits at the knee. A comprehensive osteochondral transplant program. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1983;174:96–106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Gross AE, Shasha N, Aubin P. Long-term followup of the use of fresh osteochondral allografts for posttraumatic knee defects. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005;435:79–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Haugland R. Molecular probes. In: Handbook of Fluorescent Probes, Research Chemicals. Eugene, OR: Molecular Probes Inc; 1994:422.

  38. Hurtig MB, Novak K, McPherson R, McFadden S, McGann LE, Muldrew K, Schachar NS. Osteochondral dowel transplantation for repair of focal defects in the knee: an outcome study using an ovine model. Vet Surg. 1998;27:5–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Jacobs NJ. Establishing a surgical bone bank. In: Fawcett K, Barr HR, eds. Tissue Banking. Arlington, VA: American Association of Blood Banks; 1987:67–96.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Levin A, Burton-Wurster N, Chen CT, Lust G. Intercellular signaling as a cause of cell death in cyclically impacted cartilage explants. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2001;9:702–711.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Lightfoot A, Martin J, Amendola A. Fluorescent viability stains overestimate chondrocyte viability in osteoarticular allografts. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:1817–1823.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Malinin T, Temple HT, Buck BE. Transplantation of osteochondral allografts after cold storage. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88:762–770.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Marco F, Lopez-Oliva F, Fernández Fernández-Arroyo JM, de Pedro JA, Perez AJ, Leon C, Lopez-Duran L. Osteochondral allografts for osteochondritis dissecans and osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles. Int Orthop. 1993;17:104–108.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Maury AC, Safir O, Heras FL, Pritzker KP, Gross AE. Twenty-five-year chondrocyte viability in fresh osteochondral allograft. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:159–165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. McCulloch PC, Kang RW, Sobhy MH, Hayden JK, Cole BJ. Prospective evaluation of prolonged fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation of the femoral condyle: minimum 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:411–420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. McDermott AG, Langer F, Pritzker KP, Gross AE. Fresh small fragment osteochondral allografts: long-term followup study on first 100 cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985;197:96–102.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. McGovern BM, Pritzker KP, Shasha N, Price J, Gross AE. Long-term chondrocyte viability in fresh osteochondral allograft. Am J Knee Surg. 2002;15:97–100.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Meyers MH, Akeson W, Convery FR. Resurfacing of the knee with fresh osteochondral allograft. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989;71:704–713.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Muldrew K, Hurtig M, Novak K, Schachar N, McGann LE. Localization of freezing injury in articular cartilage. Cryobiology. 1994;31:31–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Ohlendorf C, Tomford WW, Mankin HJ. Chondrocyte survival in cryopreserved osteochondral articular cartilage. J Orthop Res. 1996;14:413–416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Pearsall AW, Tucker JA, Hester RB, Heitman RJ. Chondrocyte viability in refrigerated osteochondral allografts used for transplantation within the knee. Am J Sports Med. 2004;32:125–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Pearson K, Dock N, Brubaker S. Standards for tissue banking. In: American Association of Tissue Banks. McClean, VA: American Association of Tissue Banks; 2008.

  53. Robertson CM, Allen RT, Pennock AT, Bugbee WD, Amiel D. Upregulation of apoptotic and matrix-related gene expression during fresh osteochondral allograft storage. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006;442:260–266.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Rohde RS, Studer RK, Chu CR. Mini-pig fresh osteochondral allografts deteriorate after 1 week of cold storage. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004;427:226–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Salai M, Ganel A, Horoszowski H. Fresh osteochondral allografts at the knee joint: good functional results in a follow-up study of more than 15 years. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 1997;116:423–425.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Shelbourne KD, Jari S, Gray T. Outcome of untreated traumatic articular cartilage defects of the knee: a natural history study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;85(Suppl 2):8–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Sirlin CB, Brossmann J, Boutin RD, Pathria MN, Convery FR, Bugbee W, Deutsch R, Lebeck LK, Resnick D. Shell osteochondral allografts of the knee: comparison of MR imaging findings and immunologic responses. Radiology. 2001;219:35–43.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Szomor ZL, Martin TE, Bonar F, Murrell GA. The protective effects of meniscal transplantation on cartilage. An experimental study in sheep. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000;82:80–88.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Tomford WW, Springfield DS, Mankin HJ. Fresh and frozen articular cartilage allografts. Orthopedics. 1992;15:1183.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Torzilli P. Measurement of the compressive properties of thin cartilage slices: evaluating tissue in homogeneity. In: Maroudas A, ed. Cartilage Methods. New York, NY: Academic Press; 1990:304–308.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Torzilli PA, Grigiene R, Huang C, Friedman SM, Doty SB, Boskey AL, Lust G. Characterization of cartilage metabolic response to static and dynamic stress using a mechanical explant test system. J Biomech. 1997;30:1–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Wayne JS, Amiel D, Kwan MK, Woo SL, Fierer A, Meyers MH. Long-term storage effects on canine osteochondral allografts. Acta Orthop Scand. 1990;61:539–545.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Williams JM, Virdi AS, Pylawka TK, Edwards RB, Markel MD, Cole BJ. Prolonged-fresh preservation of intact whole canine femoral condyles for the potential use as osteochondral allografts. J Orthop Res. 2005;23:831–837.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Williams RJ, Ranawat AS, Potter HG, Carter T, Warren RF. Fresh stored allografts for the treatment of osteochondral defects of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:718–726.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Williams RJ 3rd, Dreese JC, Chen CT. Chondrocyte survival and material properties of hypothermically stored cartilage: an evaluation of tissue used for osteochondral allograft transplantation. Am J Sports Med. 2004;32:132–139.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Williams S, Amiel D, Ball S, Allen RT, Wong VW, Chen AC, Sah RL, Bugbee WD. Prolonged storage effects on the articular cartilage of fresh human osteochondral allografts. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003;85:2111–2120.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Williams SK, Amiel D, Ball ST, Allen RT, Tontz WL Jr, Emmerson BC, Badlani NM, Emery SC, Haghighi P, Bugbee WD. Analysis of cartilage tissue on a cellular level in fresh osteochondral allograft retrievals. Am J Sports Med. 2007;35:2022–2032.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Stephen Lyman, PhD; Eric Attia, BS; Liang Ying, BS; Scott Rodeo, MD; the Soft Tissue Laboratory of the Hospital for Special Surgery; the Institute of Sports Medicine Research; and the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation for their support with this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital for Special Surgery, Institute for Cartilage Repair, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Anil S. Ranawat MD, Chris T. Chen PhD, Jonathan A. Zelken BA & Riley J. Williams III MD

  2. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA

    Armando F. Vidal MD

  3. College of Veterinary and Medical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    A. Simon Turner BVSc

Authors
  1. Anil S. Ranawat MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Armando F. Vidal MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chris T. Chen PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jonathan A. Zelken BA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Simon Turner BVSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Riley J. Williams III MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Riley J. Williams III MD.

Additional information

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the animal protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

About this article

Cite this article

Ranawat, A.S., Vidal, A.F., Chen, C.T. et al. Material Properties of Fresh Cold-stored Allografts for Osteochondral Defects at 1 Year. Clin Orthop Relat Res 466, 1826–1836 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0311-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0311-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation