Autogenous cultured growth plate chondrocyte transplantation in the treatment of physeal injury in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this experimental study on New Zealand's white rabbits was to investigate the transplantation of autogenous growth plate cells in order to treat the injured growth plate. They were assessed in terms of measurements of radiological tibial varus and histological characteristics.


METHODS
An experimental model of plate growth medial partial resection of the tibia in 14 New Zealand white rabbits was created. During this surgical procedure the plate growth cells were collected and cultured. While the second surgery was being performed, the autologous cultured growth plate cells were grafted at the right tibia, whereas the left tibia was used as a control group.


RESULTS
Histological examinations showed that the grafted right tibia presented the regular shape of the plate growth with hypertrophic maturation, chondrocyte columniation and endochondral calcification. Radiological study shows that the mean tibial deformity at the left angle was 20.29° (6.25 to 33) and 7.21° (5 to 10) in the right angle.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that grafting of autogenous cultured growth plate cells into a defect of the medial aspect of the proximal tibial physis can prevent bone bridge formation, growth arrest and the development of varus deformity. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:310-16.
Upper Silesian Child Health Centre, Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Katowice, Poland.
R
R
Tomaszewski
Upper Silesian Child Health Centre, Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Katowice, Poland.
J
J
Bohosiewicz
Upper Silesian Child Health Centre, Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Katowice, Poland.
A
A
Gap
Regional Blood Center Tissue Bank, Katowice, Poland.
H
H
Bursig
Regional Blood Center Tissue Bank, Katowice, Poland.
A
A
Wysocka
Chondrocytes; Culture; Growth plate