EFFECT OF ISCHEMIA AND 3 DIFFERENT PERFUSION SOLUTIONS ON THE RABBIT EPIPHYSEAL GROWTH-PLATE

An isolated vascularized knee joint model was used (1) to determine th e minimum ischemia time that produced growth retarding damage to the e piphyseal plate and (2) to evaluate whether intra-arterial perfusion c ould reduce the ischemia damage. Experiment 1 consisted of 31 rabbits in 5 groups: 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr of warm ischemia produced by clampin g the pedicle, Experiment 2 consisted of 18 rabbits in which 10 mi of one of (1) Euro-Collins, (2) University of Wisconsin solution, or (3) heparinized blood were perfused through the joint without ischemia, Ex periment 3 consisted of 21 rabbits in which one of the three solutions was perfused for a short period during 6 hr of ischemia. Growth of th e tibia was followed radiographically every month over 3 months, and t he growth plates were evaluated histologically after sacrifice. Result s showed that at least 6 hr of ischemia was needed before longitudinal growth was reduced; less ischemia time caused overgrowth. Histologic damage was found in all animals to some degree. Perfusion alone withou t ischemia had no detrimental effect on growth or histology. The growt h reduction at 6 hr of ischemia was minimized by perfusion with every solution, Heparinized blood was the most effective and Euro-Collins wa s the least effective. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.