Table 1. Histological scale which graded cartilage samples.

Score	n	Fourth Week		Eighth week
		Experimental Group	Control Group	Experimental Group Control Group
		n	n	n	n
Cell morphology
Hyaline cartilage	4			3
Mostly hyaline cartilage	3		1	2	3
Hyaline and fibrocartilage	2	2	3		1
Mostly fibrocartilage	1	2			1
Mostly non-cartilage	0
Matrix staining
Same as the normal area	4			4
Slightly reduced	3	2	2	1	3
Reduced	2	1	2		2
Significantly reduced	1	1
None	0
Surface regularity
Smooth	2		3	4	4
Slightly irregular	1	1	1	1	1
Irregular	0	3
Thickness of the cartilage (%)
100	4	1	2	5
75	3	1	2		3
50	2	1			2
25	1	1
0	0
Bonding
Both edges integrated	2	2	4	5	5
One edge integrated	1	1
Both edges not integrated	0	1