OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of self-invented cartilage-perichondrium autografting for the repair of articular cartilage defects, so as to reconstruct the joint surface.

METHODSAmong total 11 patients with hand injuries from Oct. 2005 to Oct. 2009, 7 patients were male and 4 patients were female, ranging in age from 17 to 50 years, with an average of 29 years. All the patients had serious injuries of finger joint and were treated with cartilage-perichondrium autografting. After the operation, function exercises were performed, and composite scores of joints at hand were used to evaluate therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed-up from 1 to 4 years with an average of 24 months. The operation of all the patients were successful, and there were no infection. The mean score was (41.0 +/- 0.63) in 2 years after operation. Eight patients got an excellent result (> 38 scores), 2 good (from 35 to 38 scores) and 1 bad (< 30 scores).

CONCLUSIONThe cartilage-perichondrium autografting method is effective to reconstruct the defects of articular cartilage, and decrease the disablement rate of hand injuries.