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A Rat Tibial Growth Plate Injury Model to Characterize Repair Mechanisms and Evaluate Growth Plate Regeneration Strategies
Published on: July 4, 2017
Compression (Salter-Harris Type V) physeal fracture: an experimental model in the rat
A A Mendez1, E Bartal, M B Grillot
1Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Witchita.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|January 1, 1992
Summary
This study shows that applying valgus and compressive force to immature rat tibias can cause Salter-Harris Type V fractures. Concomitant femur fractures significantly increased the risk of subsequent tibia growth disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Skeletal development
Background:
- Growth plate injuries (physeal injuries) in children can lead to limb deformities.
- The Salter-Harris Type V fracture is a rare physeal injury with poorly understood mechanisms.
- Clinical observations suggest a link between physeal injuries and ipsilateral long bone fractures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of Salter-Harris Type V fractures in a rat model.
- To determine if ipsilateral femoral fractures exacerbate tibial physeal injuries and subsequent growth disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Immature rats underwent surgical insult to the proximal tibial physis, simulating valgus and compressive forces.
- One group also sustained an ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture.
- Animals were followed to skeletal maturity to assess for growth disturbances and deformities.
Main Results:
- Histologic examination revealed Salter-Harris Type V fracture patterns in over 30% of injured tibias.
- No growth disturbances were observed in tibias without concomitant femoral fractures.
- Angular deformities occurred in 13% of tibias when an ipsilateral femur fracture was present.
Conclusions:
- This study provides experimental evidence for the Salter-Harris Type V fracture mechanism.
- Ipsilateral long bone fractures appear to increase the risk of physeal injury-related growth disturbances in the tibia.
