Abstract
IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to identify graft osteoporosis post transplantation by micro-CT analysis, and the growth potential of growth plates in the transplanted limb.MethodsTen juvenile to juvenile and five juvenile to adult hind limb transplants were performed in male syngeneic Lewis rats. Upper tibial bone density in isochronograft and heterochronograft limbs was measured by 3D micro-CT and compared with that of the opposite non-operated limbs.ResultsWe observed inferior bone quality (p < 0.05) in heterochronografts compared to isochronografts. After transplantation, isochronografts did not exhibit increases in tibial lengths compared to opposite juvenile non-operated tibias (p = 0.66) or heterochronograft tibias (p = 0.61). However, significant differences were observed between heterochrongraft tibial lengths when and opposite adult non operated tibial lengths (p < 0.001).ConclusionsAge dependent alterations affect bone quality, resulting in post transplantation osteoporosis in heterochronografts, but not isochronografts. However, the growth plates of transplanted limbs retain their properties of longitudinal growth and continue to grow at the same rate.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to identify graft osteoporosis post transplantation by micro-CT analysis, and the growth potential of growth plates in the transplanted limb
The 3D fractional bone volume (VF) in the heterochronograft group was significantly less than the bone volume fraction of the isochronograft group (p = 0.009)
The parameters of Tb.Th were significantly less in the heterochronograft group compared to the isochronograft group (p = 0.028) indicating thinner and weaker trabeculae in the heterochronograft group than the isochronograft group
Summary
The purpose of this study was to identify graft osteoporosis post transplantation by micro-CT analysis, and the growth potential of growth plates in the transplanted limb. Previous studies have attempted to understand the behavior of juvenile growth plates in adult bodies by limb transplants between animals of different ages. Previous reports indicate that microvascular epiphyseal transplants may successfully be used to reconstruct the extremities of children whose epiphyseal plates were damaged or surgically removed as a result of disease or trauma [13,14,15,16,17]. These studies demonstrated both the reconstruction of bony defects and restoration of longitudinal growth
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