Resurfacing femoral trochleoplasties with free autogenous fascia lata and periosteal grafts in dogs

An experimental study was carried out in 18 dogs by resurfacing femoral trochleoplasties with free autogenous fascia lata and periosteal grafts. Experimental recession of femoral trochlea was performed in all dogs through lateral parapatellar arthrotomy. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each. In groups 1 and 2, the trochleoplasties were resurfaced with free autogenous fascia lata and periosteal grafts, respectively, and group 3 served as controls. Three animals in each group were observed for 4 weeks and the remaining 3 for 8 weeks post-surgery. Both the grafts induced neochondrogenesis as early as 8 weeks post-surgery. In fascia lata resurfaced group, chondrogenesis was from subchondral bone and in periosteum resurfaced joints, it was both from progenitor cells of periosteum and mesenchymal cells of subchondral bone.