[Deceleration of vascular growth--a cause of varus hip deformity]

The aim of this study was to examine the peculiarities of femoral proximal epiphysis formation following the early disruption of its blood supply. The experiments were performed using 20 albino rats that were operated at postnatal day 18 having their diaphysis and acetabular arteries cut in one extremity (the other extremity serving as control). Starting at postoperational month 2 and up to month 12, 1-2 animals were sacrificed monthly by ether overdosage. Femoral and pelvic bones were removed from both control and experimental extremities, fixed in neutral formalin, decalcified, dehydrated and embedded in celloidin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. It was established that a deceleration of vascular growth compromised the nutrition of the cartilage of the femoral proximal epiphyseal growth plate. This resulted in the delay of chondrocyte differentiation and prevented the timely formation of the bone in the area of femoral collum, causing the development of varus deformity.