Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a cell based therapy for the treatment of articular cartilage defects. Numerous studies have reported outcomes following ACI using a variety of patient reported outcomes (PROs), but no clear recommendations exist regarding which PRO is the most responsive to changes following ACI. Few studies have documented changes in performance based assessments (PBAs) following ACI. Response shift theory proposes that residual changes in self-report measures occur over time. Failing to account for response shift may result in over or under reporting of outcomes from which clinical decisions are made. The purposes of this dissertation were 1) review the literature concerning ACI outcomes to determine the responsiveness of PROs to changes in self-reported function following ACI, 2) evaluate the reliability of PBAs among ACI patients, 3) develop a descriptive timeline for the return of function 1 year following ACI using both PROs and PBAs, and 4) utilize PROs and PBAs to evaluate patients undergoing ACI for evidence of response shift. All PRO and PBA measures were collected preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. A retrospective then-test PRO evaluation of function prior to surgery was completed at 6 and 12 months. Response shift was calculated by subtracting the original pre-test score from the then-test score. A systematic review and meta-analyses of existing ACI outcome studies resulted in the recommendation of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) and Lysholm Knee Scale as highly responsive PROs among ACI patients of varying activity levels. Despite significant increases in PRO scores as early as 6 months following ACI, improvement in PBAs at 12 months following ACI were limited to stride length, walking speed, and step-up force. Finally, no evidence of a group level effect for response shift was observed. These results support the validity of traditional pre-test/post-test research designs with no need to account for response shift when evaluating treatment effects of ACI on the group level. However, the Western Ontario and McMasters University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) did show evidence of a measurable response shift on a patient by patient basis.

Defeitos de cartilagem e a mais comum doença articular, a osteoartrite, são caracterizadas pela destruição da cartilagem articular, e consequentemente na perda da função articular em humanos e animais. As estratégias atuais de tratamento, conservativas e cirúrgicas, são insuficientes: não resultam em restauração total da cartilagem hialina, e, portanto trazem um prognóstico reservado a longo prazo. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do administração conjunta de concentrado de medula óssea, plasma rico em plaqueta sobre lesões condrais experimentalmente induzidas e tratadas com microfraturas e ácido hialuronico. Foram utilizadas as articulações metacarpofalangeana de 6 éguas, as quais foram divididas em 2 grupos aleatoriamente e cego. Foram feitos defeitos condrais totais através de artroscopia e, todos foram tratados com microfraturas e ácido hialurônico no transoperatório (M 0) sendo, esse repetido após 15 dias (M 15) e 30 dias (M 30). Grupo C (controle) e grupo T (tratado). O grupo T foi tratado com aspirado concentrado de células tronco de medula óssea adicionada ao plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP), os quais foram injetados na articulação no final da cirurgia (M0). O grupo T recebeu ainda 2 aplicações articulares adicionais de PRP em 15 dias (M 15) e 30 dias (M 30). As seguintes avaliações foram realizadas: exame clínico de claudicação, ultrassonografia, estudo radiográfico, avaliações de líquido sinovial (físico, bioquímico e citológico). As avaliações foram realizadas antes da cirurgia (M 0), com 3, 5 e 7 dias. Posteriormente a cada 15 dias (M 15, M 30, M 45 e M 60) e os 3 últimos momentos foram aos 90 (M90), 120 (M120) e 210 (M210) dias. Ao final do experimento os animais foram enviados para abate comercial. Foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas (p<0,05) entre o grupo tratado e controle para avaliação de proteínas no líquido sinovial corrigido por uréia em 3, 5 e 7 dias; para PGE2 no líquido sinovial em 3 e 5 dias onde para ambas as variáveis com maiores valores para o grupo tratado. Já a concentração de ácido hialurônico apresentou maiores valores (p<0,05) em 3, 45 e 90 dias no grupo controle. Para as demais variáveis não houve diferença estatística entre o grupo tratado e controle. Porém, notou-se medianas maiores para condroitin sulfato em 3 e 5 dias no grupo controle. Notavelmente, o grupo tratado apresentou melhor escore macroscópico na avaliação do tecido de reparo. Contudo, a administração intra-articular de concentrado de medula óssea e plasma rico em plaquetas sobre lesões condrais induzidas e tratadas com microfraturas e ácido hialurônico produziu uma reação articular transitória, principalmente nos primeiros 60 dias, e foi evidenciado pelo aumento de PGE2 e proteínas no líquido sinovial, bem como, claudicação, dor a flexão passiva, diminuição da mobilidade articular e aumento de volume articular. No entanto, o tratamento produziu um efeito condroprotetor e anabólico sobre tecido de reparo formado, uma vez que o grupo tratado apresentou menor concentração de ácido hialurônico 3, 45 e 90 dias e melhor escore macroscópico ICRS aos 210 dias / Cartilage defects and the most common joint disease, osteoarthritis, are characterized by destruction of articular cartilage, and consequently in loss of joint function in humans and animals. Current strategies of conservative and surgical treatment are insufficient: they don&rsquo;t result in complete restoration of hyaline cartilage, and bring a poor prognosis on the long term. This study aims to evaluate the effects of co-administration of bone marrow concentrate, platelet rich plasma on experimentally induced chondral lesions and treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid. The metacarpophalangeal joints of 6 mares were used, which were divided into 2 groups at random and blind. Total chondral defects were made using arthroscopy, and all were treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid during surgery (M 0) and the hyaluronic acid was repeated after 15 days (M 15) and 30 days (M 30). Group C (control) and T group (treated). Group T was treated with concentrated aspirated bone marrow stem cells added to the platelet rich plasma (PRP), which were injected into the joint at surgery (M0). The T group had another 2 additional joint PRP applications in 15 days (M 15) and 30 days (M 30). The following evaluations were performed: clinical examination of lameness, ultrasound, radiographic studies and synovial fluid analysis (physical, biochemical and cytological). The evaluations were performed before surgery (M 0), 3, 5 and 7 days. Then, every 15 days (M 15, M 30, M 45 and M 60) and the last 3 evaluation were at 90 (M90), 120 (M120) and 210 (M210) days. At the end of the experiment the animals were sent to commercial slaughter. Statistical differences were found (p <0.05) between the treated and control group for evaluation of protein in synovial fluid corrected by urea at 3, 5 and 7 days; for PGE2 in the synovial fluid in 3 to 5 days where both variables had higher values for the treated group. The hyaluronic acid concentration was higher (p <0.05) at 3, 45 and 90 days in the control group. For the other variables there were no statistical difference between the treated and control groups. However, greater medians were noticed for chondroitin sulfate in 3 to 5 days in the control group. Notably, the treated group showed better macroscopic score in the evaluation of the repair tissue. In conclusion, intra-articular administration of bone marrow concentrate and platelet-rich plasma on induced chondral lesions and treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid produced a transient response joint, especially during the first 60 days, and it was evidenced by the increase in PGE2 and proteins of the synovial fluid, as well as lameness, pain passive flexion, decreased joint mobility and joint swelling. Besides that, the treatment produced an anabolic chondroprotective effect on repair tissue formed once the treated group showed lower concentration of hyaluronic acid 3, 45 and 90 days, and better ICRS macroscopic scoring at 210 days

Defeitos de cartilagem e a mais comum doença articular, a osteoartrite, são caracterizadas pela destruição da cartilagem articular, e consequentemente na perda da função articular em humanos e animais. As estratégias atuais de tratamento, conservativas e cirúrgicas, são insuficientes: não resultam em restauração total da cartilagem hialina, e, portanto trazem um prognóstico reservado a longo prazo. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do administração conjunta de concentrado de medula óssea, plasma rico em plaqueta sobre lesões condrais experimentalmente induzidas e tratadas com microfraturas e ácido hialuronico. Foram utilizadas as articulações metacarpofalangeana de 6 éguas, as quais foram divididas em 2 grupos aleatoriamente e cego. Foram feitos defeitos condrais totais através de artroscopia e, todos foram tratados com microfraturas e ácido hialurônico no transoperatório (M 0) sendo, esse repetido após 15 dias (M 15) e 30 dias (M 30). Grupo C (controle) e grupo T (tratado). O grupo T foi tratado com aspirado concentrado de células tronco de medula óssea adicionada ao plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP), os quais foram injetados na articulação no final da cirurgia (M0). O grupo T recebeu ainda 2 aplicações articulares adicionais de PRP em 15 dias (M 15) e 30 dias (M 30). As seguintes avaliações foram realizadas: exame clínico de claudicação, ultrassonografia, estudo radiográfico, avaliações de líquido sinovial (físico, bioquímico e citológico). As avaliações foram realizadas antes da cirurgia (M 0), com 3, 5 e 7 dias. Posteriormente a cada 15 dias (M 15, M 30, M 45 e M 60) e os 3 últimos momentos foram aos 90 (M90), 120 (M120) e 210 (M210) dias. Ao final do experimento os animais foram enviados para abate comercial. Foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas (p<0,05) entre o grupo tratado e controle para avaliação de proteínas no líquido sinovial corrigido por uréia em 3, 5 e 7 dias; para PGE2 no líquido sinovial em 3 e 5 dias onde para ambas as variáveis com maiores valores para o grupo tratado. Já a concentração de ácido hialurônico apresentou maiores valores (p<0,05) em 3, 45 e 90 dias no grupo controle. Para as demais variáveis não houve diferença estatística entre o grupo tratado e controle. Porém, notou-se medianas maiores para condroitin sulfato em 3 e 5 dias no grupo controle. Notavelmente, o grupo tratado apresentou melhor escore macroscópico na avaliação do tecido de reparo. Contudo, a administração intra-articular de concentrado de medula óssea e plasma rico em plaquetas sobre lesões condrais induzidas e tratadas com microfraturas e ácido hialurônico produziu uma reação articular transitória, principalmente nos primeiros 60 dias, e foi evidenciado pelo aumento de PGE2 e proteínas no líquido sinovial, bem como, claudicação, dor a flexão passiva, diminuição da mobilidade articular e aumento de volume articular. No entanto, o tratamento produziu um efeito condroprotetor e anabólico sobre tecido de reparo formado, uma vez que o grupo tratado apresentou menor concentração de ácido hialurônico 3, 45 e 90 dias e melhor escore macroscópico ICRS aos 210 dias / Cartilage defects and the most common joint disease, osteoarthritis, are characterized by destruction of articular cartilage, and consequently in loss of joint function in humans and animals. Current strategies of conservative and surgical treatment are insufficient: they don&rsquo;t result in complete restoration of hyaline cartilage, and bring a poor prognosis on the long term. This study aims to evaluate the effects of co-administration of bone marrow concentrate, platelet rich plasma on experimentally induced chondral lesions and treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid. The metacarpophalangeal joints of 6 mares were used, which were divided into 2 groups at random and blind. Total chondral defects were made using arthroscopy, and all were treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid during surgery (M 0) and the hyaluronic acid was repeated after 15 days (M 15) and 30 days (M 30). Group C (control) and T group (treated). Group T was treated with concentrated aspirated bone marrow stem cells added to the platelet rich plasma (PRP), which were injected into the joint at surgery (M0). The T group had another 2 additional joint PRP applications in 15 days (M 15) and 30 days (M 30). The following evaluations were performed: clinical examination of lameness, ultrasound, radiographic studies and synovial fluid analysis (physical, biochemical and cytological). The evaluations were performed before surgery (M 0), 3, 5 and 7 days. Then, every 15 days (M 15, M 30, M 45 and M 60) and the last 3 evaluation were at 90 (M90), 120 (M120) and 210 (M210) days. At the end of the experiment the animals were sent to commercial slaughter. Statistical differences were found (p <0.05) between the treated and control group for evaluation of protein in synovial fluid corrected by urea at 3, 5 and 7 days; for PGE2 in the synovial fluid in 3 to 5 days where both variables had higher values for the treated group. The hyaluronic acid concentration was higher (p <0.05) at 3, 45 and 90 days in the control group. For the other variables there were no statistical difference between the treated and control groups. However, greater medians were noticed for chondroitin sulfate in 3 to 5 days in the control group. Notably, the treated group showed better macroscopic score in the evaluation of the repair tissue. In conclusion, intra-articular administration of bone marrow concentrate and platelet-rich plasma on induced chondral lesions and treated with microfractures and hyaluronic acid produced a transient response joint, especially during the first 60 days, and it was evidenced by the increase in PGE2 and proteins of the synovial fluid, as well as lameness, pain passive flexion, decreased joint mobility and joint swelling. Besides that, the treatment produced an anabolic chondroprotective effect on repair tissue formed once the treated group showed lower concentration of hyaluronic acid 3, 45 and 90 days, and better ICRS macroscopic scoring at 210 days