Remodelling by asymmetrical epiphysial growth. An experimental study in dogs

Abstract

Spontaneous correction of deformity is produced by bone remodelling during the period of growth. The purpose of this experimental study was to find out in which phase and to what extent asymmetrical epiphysial growth participated in the correction of an experimentally produced deformity. Transverse wedge osteotomy was performed in the legs of twenty growing mongrel dogs, the fragments being fixed with bent AO-plates. From radiographs taken at intervals of two weeks the epiphysial and axial angles were measured. Nine dogs were given tetracycline ten to twenty days before death and the cut surfaces were photographed in reflected ultra-violet light. It was found that epiphysial growth played an important role in the remodelling process. This factor accounted for roughly half of the total correction and averaged 12-5 degrees during the observation time of 160 days. The greatest correction occurred during the first weeks. Correction of the epiphysial angle took place with acceleration of growth.

Spontaneous correction of angular fracture deformity in the rat

“…In contrast to previous reports (Wolff 1892, Karaharju et al 1976Abraham 1989, Wallace and Hoffman 1992, Murray et al 1996, the contribution of the diaphysis in correcting the deformity is greater than that of the growth plate. The diaphyseal correction is mainly achieved through a mechanism by which the front of new bone formation proceeds in opposite directions at fracture level and higher up in the proximal diaphysis.…”

A Mechanical Jack-like Mechanism Drives Spontaneous Fracture Healing in Neonatal Mice

“…In accordance with Wolff's law (Wolff, 1892), it involves bone resorption at the convexity and mineral deposition at the concavity (Murray et al, 1996;Wilkins, 2005). The second process is reorientation of the growth plates, which leads to asymmetric epiphyseal growth and thereby to bone alignment (Karaharju et al, 1976;Wallace and Hoffman, 1992). Although the contribution of these mechanisms is unquestionable, it is also limited.…”

A biomechanical analysis of the vertebral and rib deformities in structural scoliosis

“…Animal studies have been performed in which changes of bone growth and bone remodelling were measured after alterations were made to the normal mechanical environment [5,14,19,55]. In idiopathic scoliosis, whatever its primary cause, the normal physiological, biomechanical circumstances have been changed.…”