Inhibition of partial closure of epiphyseal plate in rabbits by indomethacin.

The efficiency of indomethacin (10 mg/kg/day) in inhibiting recurrent partial closure of the epiphyseal plate was tested in rabbits. An epiphysiodesis was done laterally in the distal left femoral epiphyseal plate in 10 adolescent rabbits. This produced a valgus deformity in 14 of them. The bone bridge was then removed operatively and the rabbits were treated with either indomethacin or vehicle for 21 days postoperatively. Indomethacin plasma levels were about 180 ng/ml. The valgus deformity improved in indomethacin-treated rabbits, whereas it became worse in the controls (P = 0.004).