Repair of knee cartilage defects with modified carbon fibre implants – preliminary study

The paper presents promising results of our pilot study. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of modified carbon fibres on cartilage regeneration. Fullthick knee articular cartilage defects in rabbits were filled with equal portions of pure carbon fibres of carbon fibres enriched with hydroxyapatite, hyaluronan or calcium alginate. Historical specimens containing implanted carbon fibres after 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks from the surgery were prepared. Carbon fibres modified with hydroxyapatite generated bone growth, while those without modification and modified with hyaluronan supported cartilage regeneration.