[Experimental histological study of the articular cartilage of the external femoral condyle in tibial elongation in dogs].
The tibia was elongated in 18 adult mongrel dogs with the rate of 1 mm per day produced with 60 increments (1st series, autodistraction) or 8 increments (2nd series, manual distraction). On completion of 28 days of distraction, followed by 30 days of fixation and 30 days without the fixator, the articular cartilage of the external femoral condyle was studied in the experimental and 3 intact animals using the methods of light and scanning electron microscopy, computer morphometry and stereometry. It was established that the structural changes in the cartilage during the experiment included destruction of the superficial area. The degree of destruction severity was directly related to the duration of the stage when the fixator was on. In a month after the fixator removal the return to the motor stereotype resulted in restoration of the cartilage surface in the 1st series, whereas in the second one the changes persisted. The studies performed revealed general features of the morpho-functional state of the articular cartilage in tibial lengthening in both experimental series, and showed that the autodistraction mode was less traumatic for the articular cartilage.
Shchudlo
M M
MM
Stupina
T A
TA
Erofeev
S A
SA