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Bone lengthening by physial distraction

An experimental study

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Summary

Experimental physial distraction was carried out in the distal part of the femur in 45 two-month old lambs in order to study the basic mechanisms of lengthening as ell as the viability of the growth cartilage after using this method. The animals were divided into three groups (A, B and C), and each group into three subgroups (1, 2 and 3) according to the rate of distraction used (2 mm/day, 1 mm/day, 0.5 mm/day) and the time of sacrifice.

The results obtained show that the basic lengthening mechanisms consists, firstly, in the production of a fracture between the metaphysis and the epiphysis and, secondly, that the lower the distraction speed employed, the greater is the short-term and long-term viability of the growth cartilage. Optimum viability was observed at a distraction rate of 0.5 mm/day.

On this basis we conclude that in clinical practice physial distraction could be indicated for children at an early stage of skeletal growth and repeated later provided that the rate of distraction is kept within reasonable limits.

Résumé

Une étude expérimentale portant sur la distraction épiphysaire au niveau de l'extrémité distale du fémur a été réalisée chez 45 moutons âgés de 2 mois, dans le but d'étudier les mécanismes d'allongement ainsi que la vitalité du cartilage de croissance. Les animaux ont été divisés en trois groupes (A, B, C) et 9 sous-groupes (1, 2, 3) selon la vitesse de l'allongement (2 mm/jour, 1 mm, 0,5 mm) et la date à laquelle ils ont été sacrifiés.

Les résultats obtenus montrent que le mécanisme de base consiste dans la création d'une fracture épiphysodiaphysaire et, d'autre part, que plus la vitesse d'élongation est lente, plus le cartilage de croissance est viable à court et à long terme. Les meilleurs résultats furent obtenus à la vitesse de 0,5 mm/jour. On peut donc conclure qu'en pratique la distraction épiphysaire peut être indiquée chez les enfants dont l'âge osseux est bas, et qu'elle peut être répétée ultérieurement, à condition de maintenir la vitesse d'allongement dans des limites raisonnables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, University Clinic of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    J. de Pablos, C. Villas & J. Canadell

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  1. J. de Pablos
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  2. C. Villas
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  3. J. Canadell
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de Pablos, J., Villas, C. & Canadell, J. Bone lengthening by physial distraction. International Orthopaedics 10, 163–170 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266203

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