Experimental transplantation of small joints by microvascular anastomoses.
Metacarpophalangeal joints in dogs were transplanted with microvascular anastomoses. Some were transplanted as half-joints, others as whole joints, and these dogs were followed for up to 5 1/2 months. When a half-joint was transplanted within the foot, the joint movement became restricted but the vascularized half-joints were well preserved with only slight damage and well-preserved epiphyseal plates--compared to severe damage of the articular cartilage and destruction of the epiphyseal plates in the non-vascularized joint transplants. Vascularized whole joint transplants within the foot were indistinguishable macroscopically and microscopically from normal joints, and they had only a slight restriction of joint movement. They took up tetracycline from the circulation, demonstrating their viability.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004285:Dogs; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008833:Microcirculation; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000601:surgery; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous