Preoperative bone-marrow-derived cell mobilization by G-CSF is a safe orthopaedic procedure and allows circulation in the blood of high numbers of CD34+ve cells, promoting osseointegration of a bone substitute. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor(G-CSF) has been used to improve repair processes in different clinical settings for its role in bone-marrow stem cell(CD34+ and CD34-) mobilization. Recent literature suggests that G-CSF may also play a role in skeletal-tissue repair processes. Aim of the study was to verify the feasibility and safety of preoperative bone-marrow cell (BMC) mobilization by G-CSF in orthopaedic patients and to evaluate G-CSF efficacy in accelerating bone regeneration following opening-wedge high tibial valgus osteotomy(HTVO) for genu varum.Summary Statement
Introduction
Hypoxia enhances chondrocyte phenotype of cells migrating from cartilage fragments, thus supporting the use of chondral fragment as a potential cell source for one-stage cartilage repair Minced cartilage fragments are a viable cell source for one stage cartilage repair, as shown in both in preclinical and clinical studies. However, the joint microenvironment, in which the repair process takes place, is hypoxic and no evidences are present in literature regarding the behaviour of cartilage fragments in a hypoxic environment. Aim of the study is to verify if hypoxia could influence chondrocyte outgrowth from cartilage fragments into a Hyaluronic-Acid/fibrin scaffold and evaluate its effects on migrating chondrocyte behaviour, compared to normoxic condition. This could be significant in the perspective of a wide clinical application of human chondral fragments for single stage repair.Summary Statement
Introduction
