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Biomechanical activity of the growth plate

Clinical incidences

Comportement biomécanique du cartilage de croissance. Incidences cliniques

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Summary

The authors analyze at several levels the biomechanical activity of the epiphyseal plate.

From a histologic point of view, they show the role played by the different cell layers in growth.

The rapid growth of long bones is well known in animals, not entirely in human beings. The factors involved in mechanical regulation of the epiphyseal plate are analyzed according to distraction and compression stresses. Other factors have also been reported (periosteum and muscle).

Analysis of the literature reveals that biomechanical activity and the factors managing growth are not well known yet.

A combined effort should be made to obtain better understanding of the surgical procedures carried out in pediatric orthopedics.

Résumé

Les auteurs analysent le comportement biomécanique du cartilage de croissance à plusieurs niveaux.

Sur le plan histologique ils montrent le rôle joué dans la croissance par les différentes couches cellulaires.

La vitesse de croissance des os longs est bien connue chez les animaux et difficile à apprécier chez l'homme. Les facteurs intervenant dans la régulation mécanique du cartilage sont analysés en fonction des contraintes en compression et en détraction. Les autres facteurs (périoste et muscle) sont rapportés.

L'analyse de la littérature montre combien le comportement mécanique et les facteurs régissant la croissance sont mal connus et mériteraient un effort de recherche conjugué pour mieux comprendre la portée des gestes chirurgicaux en orthopédie infantile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Recherche Biomécanique, INSERM U 103, Secteur Orthopédie Traumatologie Chirurgie B, Hôpital St-Eloi, Montpellier, France

    F. Bonnel

  2. Service de Chirurgie Infantile, CHU St-Charles, Unité de Recherche Biomécanique, INSERM U 103, Montpellier, France

    A. Dimeglio

  3. Laboratoire d'Anatomie Pathologique, Gui-de-Chauliac, Montpellier, France

    P. Baldet

  4. Laboratoire d'Anatomie Normale, Unité de Recherche Biomécanique, INSERM U 103, Montpellier, France

    P. Rabischong

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  1. F. Bonnel
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  2. A. Dimeglio
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  3. P. Baldet
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  4. P. Rabischong
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Bonnel, F., Dimeglio, A., Baldet, P. et al. Biomechanical activity of the growth plate. Anat. Clin 6, 53–61 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01811214

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