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In two cases of partial closure of an epiphysial plate causing angular deformity, one of a finger and one of the lower end of a femur, the deformities were corrected by growth after resection of a small peripheral bone bridge and its replacement with a free transplant of fat. This procedure has a firm basis on experimental work. Thus, when part of a growth plate in the rabbit is destroyed but the formation of a bone bridge uniting epiphysis and metaphysis is prevented, the destroyed part is replaced by regeneration of cartilage from the adjacent parts of the plate. Moreover, it has been proved in rabbits that when a bone bridge is induced and later resected and replaced with fat, recurrence of the bridge can be prevented and subsequent growth may correct the deformity.

In order to obtain a reproducible experimental model of osteoarthritis a method of immobilizing the rabbit's knee in extension by means of plastic splint was developed. The right knees of the rabbits were immobilized for periods varying from 4 days to 24 weeks. With the left knees as controls the knees were studied in a variety of ways among these being radiography (126 rabbits), histological sections stained with Alcian Blue (88 rabbits), analysis of 35S-sulphate uptake (22 rabbits) and 35S-autoradiography (6 rabbits). In 27 rabbits the regaining of mobility after immobilization was studied. After 5-6 weeks of immobilization most of the knees showed moderate or severe changes including loss of articular cartlilage and osteophyte formation. Immobilization of the rabbit's knee by this method provokes a fairly easily reproducible type of degenerative joint disease showing similarities to advanced osteoarthritis as seen in humans.

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