Vascularized synovial flap promoting regeneration of the cryopreserved meniscal allograft: experimental study in rabbits.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate whether a vascularized or free synovial flap or a fibrin clot can promote regeneration of meniscal allograft in the rabbit. Seventy-eight mature New Zealand white rabbits were used. The harvested medial meniscus for the allotransplantation was frozen and stored at -80 degrees C for 2 weeks. After resecting the medial meniscus, an allogenic meniscus was transplanted in the anatomical position (group A). The surface of the graft was covered by a vascularized synovial flap (group B), a free synovial flap (group C), or a fibrin clot (group D). The animals were killed 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after transplantation, and the transplants were examined by gross inspection, histology, and microangiography. Connective tissue infiltration into the matrix of the graft was found to begin at 6 weeks (2/5 menisci) and to be complete at 8 weeks (5/5 menisci) in group B, whereas it began at 8 weeks (1/5) in group A. The newly formed repair tissue developed from the synovial tissue and consisted of connective tissue at the beginning and fibrocartilage later. The fibrocartilage had appeared at 8 weeks (3/5) in group B but not yet in group A (0/5). A free flap or fibrin clot coverage resulted in delayed revascularization compared to a vascularized synovial flap, but both tended to achieve faster revascularization than the controls. We concluded that regeneration of allografted meniscus with a vascularized synovial flap occurs earlier than under other conditions. Thus, allografts with synovial implantation may be considered for management of the meniscectomized knee.