Although transplantation of preserved cartilage has assumed a role of
great importance in reconstructive surgery, there are many divergent a
nd contradictory opinions with regard to the outcome of cryopreserved
cartilage. This study was formulated to assess the functional state of
chondrocytes after cryopreservation. Freeze injury and survival were
studied using the trypan blue dye exclusion test, functional assay for
cell adhesion and transmission electron microscopy. The methods appli
ed clearly proved that a greater part of the cartilage cells was irrev
ersibly damaged by cryopreservation. Findings demonstrated that cryopr
eserved cartilage remained non-viable and was not able to originate ne
w cartilage. Thus, such cartilage will be subject to resorption proces
ses and not practical for reconstruction of parts of the skeleton subj
ect to mechanical stress. The feasibility of cryopreservation techniqu
es for providing vital cartilage substitutes needs further evaluation.