Free microvascular epiphyseal transplantation: an experimental study in dogs

Orthopic and heterotopic microvascular epiphyseal transplants based on periosteal blood supply were performed in 2 experiments. Heterotopic transplants averaged 69 per cent of growth of non-operated control bones. Orthopic transplants achieved a better result but the number of dogs available for evaluation was too small to be conclusive. The question is raised whether additional blood supply to the epiphyseal side of the transplant could improve the results.