This study investigates the adhesion capacity of a polyglycolic acid- (PGA-)
hyaluronan scaffold with a structural modification based on a planar polymer
(PM) surface in a cadaver cartilage defect model. Two cadaver specimens were
used to serially test multiple chondral matrices. In a cadaver hip model, cell
free polymer-based cartilage implants with a planar bioinspired PM surface
(PGA-PM-scaffolds) were implanted arthroscopically on 10 mm × 15 mm full-
thickness femoral hip cartilage lesions. Unprocessed cartilage implants
without a bioinspired PM surface were used as control group. The cartilage
implants were fixed without and with the use of fibrin glue on femoral hip
cartilage defects. After 50 movement cycles and removal of the distraction, a
rearthroscopy was performed to assess the outline attachment and integrity of
the scaffold. The fixation techniques without and with fibrin fixation showed
marginal differences for outline attachment, area coverage, scaffold
integrity, and endpoint fixation after 50 cycles. The PGA-PM-scaffolds with
fibrin fixation achieved a higher score in terms of the attachment, integrity,
and endpoint fixation than the PGA-scaffold on the cartilage defect. Relating
to the outline attachment, area coverage, scaffold integrity, and endpoint
fixation, the fixation with PGA-PM-scaffolds accomplished significantly better
results compared to the PGA-scaffolds . PGA-PM-scaffolds demonstrate increased
observed initial fixation strength in cadaver femoral head defects relative to
PGA-scaffold, particularly when fibrin glue is used for fixation
