Biologically Regulated Marrow Stimulation by Blocking TGF-β1 With Losartan Oral Administration Results in Hyaline-like Cartilage Repair: A Rabbit Osteochondral Defect Model.

Background: Microfracture or bone marrow stimulation (BMS) is often the first choice for clinical treatment of cartilage injuries; however, fibrocartilage, not pure hyaline cartilage, has been reported because of the development of fibrosis in the repair tissue. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), which can promote fibrosis, can be inhibited by losartan and potentially be used to reduce fibrocartilage.

Hypothesis: Blocking TGF-β1 would improve cartilage healing in a rabbit knee BMS model via decreasing the amount of fibrocartilage and increasing hyaline-like cartilage formation.

Meniscus suture repair: minimum 10-year outcomes in patients younger than 40 years compared with patients 40 and older.

Background: Few studies have compared outcomes after meniscus suture repair in patients younger than 40 years versus patients 40 years and older.

Purpose: To document failure rates and long-term outcomes after meniscus suture repair by a single surgeon, using the inside-out technique, at a minimum 10-year follow-up in patients younger than 40 years versus those 40 years and older.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Resorbable collagen scaffolds for the treatment of meniscus defects: a systematic review.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and structural outcomes after resorbable collagen meniscus scaffold implantation through a systematic review of the published literature.

Methods: A systematic search of both the PubMed and Embase databases was undertaken to identify all studies that reported clinical and/or structural outcomes after resorbable collagen meniscus scaffold implantation for the treatment of defects involving either the medial or lateral meniscus. Extracted data included study characteristics; surgical methods and rehabilitation protocols; objective outcomes; and preoperative and postoperative subjective outcome scores including Lysholm, Tegner, International Knee Documentation Committee, and visual analog scale scores.

Outcomes following healing response in older, active patients: a primary anterior cruciate ligament repair technique.

The purpose of this study was to document outcomes following the healing response procedure for treatment of complete, proximal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in a mature, active population. Healing response is an all-arthroscopic procedure that preserves the native ACL and makes use of an arthroscopic awl with a 45-degree angle to make holes in the femoral attachment of the ACL and in the body of the ACL. Patients were included in this IRB-approved study if they were > or =40 years old, had a complete proximal ACL tear, and who had healing response within 6 weeks of initial injury.

Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma Composition on Anabolic and Catabolic Activities in Equine Cartilage and Meniscal Explants.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of single- and double-spin preparations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on anabolic and catabolic activities of cartilage and meniscal explants in vitro.

Methods: Single- and double-spin PRP was prepared using laboratory processing or commercial kits. The cellular contents were quantified, and each PRP was mixed in equal quantities with cell culture medium and added to cartilage or meniscus explant cultures, with or without interleukin 1 β (IL-1β).