Figure 6

The mean modified Mankin's scores of the plug cartilage (open circles) at day 0 (0D) and at weeks 2 (2W), 4 (4W), 8 (8W), 12 (12W) and 24 (24W) postoperatively were 0.33, 1.67, 2.00, 2.75, 3.50 and 2.50, respectively. Those of the corresponding sham site (closed circles) were 0.00, 0.67, 0.00, 1.00, 0.50 and 0.50 points, respectively. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Scheffe's F-test revealed that, on the grafted side, the score differed significantly between day 0 and week 12 (* P < 0.05). Mann–Whitney U-test revealed that the score differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the sham and experimental sites at 4, 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively (not indicated in the graph).