title: Effects of a pediatric physeal slide-traction plate on fracture healing: an experimental study in a goat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been an intractable issue for the orthopaedic surgeons to treat pediatric epiphyseal injury and surrounding bone fracture using Kirschner wires and screws, etc. Earlier research has indicated that pediatric physeal slide-traction plate (PPSP) can fix bone fracture without restricting growth. However, it is not clear whether this material can be clinically used to treat pediatric epiphyseal injury and surrounding bone fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PPSP and standard plate (SP) were designed to configure to the femoral condyle. Twelve premature female goats were enrolled in this study. Fracture models were successfully established on goats, on which the right femurs were fixed with SP, and the left femurs were fixed with PPSP. Radiographic analysis and biomechanical tests were done at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The callus gray density increased with time going on in each group, at the same postoperational time point, the PPSP group was higher than that of the SP group. The difference between PPSP group and SP group was statistically significant at the same stage (P<0.01). The biomechanical tests showed that the PPSP group was stronger than the SP group in anticompression, antibending, and antitorsion at the same stage (P<0.05). In addition, it was shown through the radiographic analysis that PPSP extended accordingly as the epiphyseal plate grows, and the epiphyseal morphology was considered normal all the time. However, epiphyseal premature closure and angular deformity were observed in the samples of the SP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPSP contributed greatly to healing of bone fracture with increased callus density and callus strength in the early stage, and did not restrict the growth of the epiphyseal plate. It may be clinically applied in the treatment of pediatric epiphyseal injury and surrounding bone fracture in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic level II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Orthopaedic Trauma Center of PLA, Zhangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dasheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiayuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kejian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Wenliang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Zhenqi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006041:Goats; D023421:Models, Animal; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*