Effects of physeal distraction on the vascular supply of the growth area: a microangiographical study in rabbits

To study the effects of physeal distraction on growth plate vascularity, microangiography was performed in 45 growing rabbits. Marked enlargement of the epiphyseal arteries and defective metaphyseal capillary filling were observed in association with hyperplasia and separation of the physes after 3 days of distraction, and the changes still persisted locally in specimens distracted for 21 days. New capillaries were observed in the hyperplastic physes and in separation gaps at 21 days. Vascular anastomoses across the physes were noted after 6 weeks of follow-up. Epiphyseal capillary enlargement may indicate increased nutritional demands of the physis, whereas metaphyseal changes are probably related to separation in the hypertrophic chondrocyte zone.