The effect of trauma to the lower femoral epiphyseal plate. An experimental study in rabbits

Abstract

Forty-four rabbits were operated on when five weeks old; in one group a 2 mm drill-hole was made in the intercondylar portion of the right femur across the central portion of the growth plate up to the diaphysis, while in the other group a similar drill-hole of 3.2 mm was made. At 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, specimens from the growth plates of both femora were analysed using radiographic, microradiographic, histological and histomorphometric techniques. It was found that destruction of 7% of the cross-sectional area of the growth plate caused permanent growth disturbance and shortening of the femur.

Pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcomes

“…Kercher et al [32] used virtual transphyseal tunnels and determined that a 5 % increased angle decreased the amount of physis removed by 0.2 %. Animal studies suggest that damage to a cross-sectional area greater than 7 % of the femoral physis [33] and 4 % of the tibial physis may result in growth arrest [34].…”

Pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

“…It has been shown in animal models that: 1) ACL tunnels filled with soft tissue grafts are less likely to form physeal bars and cause shortening or angular deformity compared with empty tunnels [34,35], irrespective of the tunnel size [35]; 2) overtensioning of transphyseal grafts in skeletally immature individuals may predispose to growth disturbance [36]; 3) the amount of physeal damage and the presence of bioabsorbable devices at the level of the physis affect the chance of growth arrest [37][38][39]. Animal studies suggest that damage to less than 5% of the physis is unlikely to affect growth but that injury to 7-9% of the physis may cause a growth arrest [37][38][39]. It has been estimated that an 8 mm femoral tunnel in a 12 year old causes injury to 3-4% of the surface area of the physis [39].…”

The Influence of Shock Waves on Epiphysial Growth Plates: First Results of an In-Vivo Study with Rabbits

“…The aim of this study was to make a statement concerning possible, perhaps dose-dependent growth retardation in epiphyses due to the influence of shock waves by applying these in various doses. An early ossification of the epiphysis as a reaction to the epiphysial damage was expected [18][19][20]26]. …”