Effect of patellar shaving in the rabbit

Shaving of the articular cartilage on the undersurface of the patella was carried out in mature white New Zealand rabbits to determine whether the removed cartilage reformed or the shaving led to later evidence of degenerative arthritis. The animals were followed for as long as 15 months after surgery, at which time patellae were removed and examined by light and electron microscopy. The depth of shaving varied considerably; however, no evidence of repair and no evidence of degenerative arthritis was noted in either the superficial or deeply shaved patellae. It is concluded that such superficial cartilage defects neither repair or produce subsequent degenerative arthritis.