Short-term response of a skeletal growth plate to heterotopic microvascular transfer.

The capacity of the epiphyseal growth cartilage from the dog fibula to retain its growth potential after heterotopic transfer to a distal radial defect was investigated and compared to orthotopically transferred controls. Autoradiographs of the physes cultured in 3H-thymidine indicated continued proliferation of the growth cartilage in all revascularized transfers at the time of death, six weeks postoperatively. However, the nonvascular orthotopic controls did not incorporate the radioactive label. Fluorescent bone labels were incorporated in parallel bands in the metaphyseal bone, demonstrating linear bone growth in the revascularized transfers. Additional evidence for the viability of the transferred growth cartilage was obtained with histologic sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and safranin-O. Roentgenograms and volume measurements showed a tendency toward hypertrophy of the heterotopic transfers.