COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT METHODS USED TO INHIBIT PHYSEAL GROWTH IN A RABBIT MODEL

A rabbit model was used to compare the rate, efficacy, and histologic appearance of physeal growth inhibition effected by Phemister epiphysi odesis, epiphyseal stapling, and percutaneous epiphysiodesis. Each tec hnique led to an effective physeal closure, although the Phemister and staple methods produced more rapid deceleration of growth, A slower r ate of physeal closure was seen after percutaneous epiphysiodesis, bec ause this technique produced a gap in the bone that initially filled w ith fibrous tissue before forming bridges of trabecular bone leading t o closure of the growth plate, Elevation of the periosteum alone produ ced an initial growth stimulation followed by early physiologic physea l closure, The amount of physis to ablate when doing a percutaneous ep iphysiodesis is controversial, These results suggest that a percutaneo us technique with limited physeal ablation, as used in the current stu dy, effects a slower rate of growth inhibition than that by the Phemis ter and staple techniques, A percutaneous technique that ablates a lar ger portion of the physis may be desirable to obtain more rapid growth inhibition.