To characterize the quality of flap tissues and the resident cells in order to provide a scientific rationale for reattaching flap tissues during surgery.

11 acetabular chondral flaps and 3 non-delaminated cartilage samples were resected during open hip surgeries and the anatomical orientation was marked. The viability was measured in 7 flaps with Live Dead staining and the distribution of the extracellular matrix components was investigated in 7 oriented flaps by histology. The chondrogenic potential of the residing cells (P2) was investigated via pellets assays (5 flaps). Their capacity to outgrow from flap particles was tested upon encapsulation in 4mm-diameter fibrin glue discs (6 flaps).

The viability in flaps was 49.4 ± 6.5 % compared to 70.6 ± 8.2 % in non-delaminated cartilage, (not significant). Histology showed a progression of fibrillation from the delaminated side towards the site of attachment. This degraded state correlated with the capacity of the cells to outgrow, with 60.6 ± 33 % of the gel area covered by migrating cells after 4 weeks in culture. However, the cells in flaps showed a decreased chondrogenic potential than chondrocytes from non-delaminated cartilage.

Our findings indicate that flaps contain viable cells that can outgrow from the tissue due to the degraded state of the matrix. The poor chondrogenic property of the cells suggests they are unlikely to produce enough matrix to provide a solid attachment of the delaminated tissue upon migration.