ИСТИНА

Background: Cartilage has a poor regenerative capacity and currently there is no an effective treatment for promoting cartilage repair. Accordingly, large trauma-associated cartilage defects are often treated surgically by covering with synthetic collagen membranes. Purpose: To compare the healing capacities of two types of synthetic collagen membranes employing a rat model. Materials and methods: Full thickness cartilage defects were made surgically in rat patellofemoral groove and immediately covered with one of the two collagen membranes: Chondro-Gide® (Switzerland) or Chondrotek (Russian Federation). Control group was left without coverage. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score and histological analysis were carried out in 2 and 4 months after implantation. Results: Both collagen membranes have a positive effect on cartilage repair since the thickness of newly formed tissue was signifi cantly higher than in control group. However, formation of fi brocartilage but not hyaline cartilage was observed in all groups. No signifi cant difference was observed between Chondro-Guide® and Chondrotek membranes repair capacity. Conclusion: Both collagen membranes have comparable repair capacity and both failed to facilitate formation of hyaline cartilage.