title: The in-vivo effect of torque on growth in caudal vertebrae.
abstract: Numerous studies involving axial distraction and compression of the spine indicate that longitudinal loading affects the vertebral growth plate as well as modulation of spinal growth. Furthermore, asymmetric loading is involved in curve progression as a result of vertebral bone changes and disc wedging. As with longitudinal loading, direct or indirect application of torque to the growth plate may have an influence as well. A study was undertaken to develop a fixture that may be applied in-vivo to generate controlled torsional loads and to examine the effect of such torsional loads on the growth plate in caudal vertebrae. It is shown that application of torque leads to curvature in the morphology of the growth plate, a reduced width (medial to lateral distance of the growth plate) and remarkably increased thickness (height of 3 physeal zones in the growth plate) and dramatically widened disc space.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Milwaukee School Of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Rizza
authors: Xue Cheng
authors: XC
authors: Liu
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Thometz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007103:Immobilization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D019415:Torque