Orthotopic knee grafts in rats: a model for growth plate transplantation

A model for orthotopic whole knee transplantation in syngeneic Lewis rats is presented. The donor knee was isolated on the femoral vessels 1 cm superior and inferior to the knee joint. A minimal muscle cuff was left attached to ensure adequate circulation to the graft via the popliteal vessels. The graft was transplanted to the recipient animal and secured in an orthotopic position by two intramedullary Kirschner wires. The graft pedicle was anastomosed to the recipient's femoral vessels and the muscular elements sutured. Preliminary results are reported, and future implications on growth plate autograft transplantation are discussed.