Experimentally produced growth disturbance of the acetabulum in young rabbits

The primary aim of this study was to clarify the influence of operations of the acetabular roof on the development of the hip joint in growing rabbits. The second objective was to discover if age had any role in the development of eventual acetabular growth disturbance. The animals were 3 and 8 weeks old at the time of the operation. A wedge-resection was performed on the acetabular roof through an extra-articular approach. In the control series only the soft tissues were operated, and the bony-cartilaginous roof was left intact. The growth of the hips was followed radiographically. In the rabbits operated at the age of 3 weeks acetabular dysplasia developed within a few weeks, associated with subluxation or luxation of the femoral head combined with other secondary changes of the joint. In the rabbits operated at the age of 8 weeks the dysplastic changes of the acetabulum were lesser or no abnormalities could be seen. In the control group the growth of the hip was normal.