Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency has been used for the treatment of cartilage injury, but its safety and post-effect is not exact.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the chondrocyte viability and surface contouring through flow cytometer and scanning electron microscope respectively during different treatment periods with bipolar radiofrequency energy under simulated arthroscopy in order to evaluate the effect and safety of bipolar radiofrequency for the treatment of cartilage injury.
METHODS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were selected, and under sterile conditions, the anterior cruciate ligament removal and medial meniscectomy were performed to make models of cartilage injury. At 6 weeks after modeling, cartilage injury of the left knee joint was treated with bipolar radiofrequency for different time periods: 5, 10 and 20 seconds, the right side was as control without radiofrequency ablation. Then, the post-effect of bipolar radiofrequency for the treatment of cartilage injury was observed after treated for 8 weeks.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: General observation showed that the macro-pathologic articular cartilage surface of the treatment groups was smoother than that in the control group; the scanning electron microscope score in the 10 seconds group and 20 seconds group was higher than that in the 5 seconds group and control group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05); the mortality rate of chondrocytes in 20 seconds group was significantly higher than that in 5 seconds group, 10 seconds group and the control group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between 5 seconds group, 10 seconds group and control group (P > 0.05) . The treatment time should be minimized when the bipolar radiofrequency can achieve the desired effect on the treatment of articular cartilage injury, in order to reduce the damage on the chondrocytes, as the speed of cartilage degeneration can be delayed by bipolar radiofrequency treatment.