Conducting osteochondral injury model in rabbit knee: Pearls and pitfalls

Osteochondral damage is a commonly encountered issue in the daily orthopedic practice and has been extensively researched across various areas, including tissue transplantations, tissue engineering products, stem cell applications, and cell culture studies. The absence of a universally accepted treatment as the gold standard for osteochondral damage indicates the necessity for further studies in this field in the future. Although the biomechanical characteristics of the rabbit knee do not perfectly mimic those of the human knee, experimental studies conducted on rabbit knees are considered the most practical experimental model for testing a well-constructed experimental hypothesis. Our article endeavors to impart our practical insights and experiences to researchers without experience whom seeking to design studies utilizing this model. We aim to offer valuable guidance for preoperative, operative, and postoperative considerations. • Rabbits used in osteochondral healing models should be at least 4 months old or older. Inducing damage in the trochlea is a well-established technique and relatively easy to apply. • Do not use pointy ended drills as it might create uneven damage. Do not place applied treatment agent in inappropriate level in relation to the surrounding cartilage surface.