Physeal reconstruction with blocks of cartilage of varying developmental time.

Reconstruction of physeal regions excised from the distal femoral chondroepiphysis was performed in a murine model. The excised regions were replaced with analogous blocks of syngeneic tissue. Vascularity, matrix formation, and cell division were assessed as well as growth. The blocks of tissue did not produce growth consistently, although individual specimens did show some growth. Tritiated thymidine incorporation by the proliferative zone of the transplanted block of tissue was not normal. The blocks of tissue did receive a nutritional supply from the host and did continue matrix formation after transplantation.