The growth plate is responsible for longitudinal bone growth. The problem of repair of damaged growth plate in children has never been adequately solved. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ability of the cultured chondrocyte for the prevention of bony bridge and repairment of damaged growth plate. Chondrocytes were obtained from the new born canine epiphyseal plate and was cultured in high density. Fourteen days later they formed micromass easily removable from the culture flask. Twenty dogs were divided into two groups; in group I, the medial proximal tibial growth plate was destroyed and then cultured chondrocytes were transplanted into the defect, and in group II, the medial proximal tibial growth plate was left in destroyed state. Each left leg was remained as a control. The growth pattern was observed radiographically and histologically until 16 weeks after graft. 4 weeks after the operation, the angular deformity had been observed, and 31 degrees of angulation was noted at the 16th week in group II, while there was less than 8 degrees of angulation and nearly normal growth in most of dogs of group I (8 of 10 dogs). The other 2 dogs had shown 20 degrees angulation. In group II, there was definite bony bridge on the medical proximal growth plate. In group I, initially, the cultured chondrocyte remained as a amorphous cartilagenous mass, but as time progressed, amorphous cartilagenous mass had formed cartilagenous matrix which was proved by Safranin-O staining. Although this study showed the role of cultured chondrocyte as a method of preventation of bony bridge formation and possibility to repair of growth plate, further studies should be done to prove the reconstruction of the growth plate.
Animal ; Cartilage/*cytology ; *Cell Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Growth Plate/injuries/*surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous

Eleven skeletally immature adolescents underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a transphyseal tibial and femoral tunnel. An autologous quadrupled hamstring tendon was used in all cases and the average follow-up was 77.7 months. Clinical results were evaluated using Lysholm knee scores and a return to pre-injury sports activities. Radiological results were evaluated using side-to-side differences of instrumented laxities and growth disturbances compared with the uninjured side on final follow-up orthoroentgenograms. The mean Lysholm score was 97.8 (range 94-100) and mean side-to-side laxity difference was 2.4 mm (range 1-4). Ten of 11 patients returned to pre-injury sports activity. No patient had a leg length discrepancy of over 1 cm or a significant abnormal angular deformity of the knee joint. Therefore, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the transphyseal tunnel and hamstring autograft in skeletally immature adolescents is believed to be a reliable treatment method, which is not associated with significant leg length discrepancy or abnormal angular deformity of the knee joint.
Adolescent ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/*injuries/radiography/*surgery ; Bone Development ; Growth Plate/injuries/radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Knee Injuries/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures/*methods ; Tendons/transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous

Child ; Growth Plate ; blood supply ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Popliteal Artery ; pathology ; Salter-Harris Fractures ; Tibia ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed