Epiphysiodesis by electrocautery in the rabbit and dog.

Numerous experiments have demonstrated arrest of longitudinal bone growth by traumatizing the epiphyseal growth plate. Recently, promising studies have been performed using less invasive means to produce epiphysiodesis than the conventional surgical technique. The distal femoral physeal plate was cauterized in 20 rabbits and 17 dogs through an inserted needle and a standard operating room electrocautery machine. The result showed a progressive distal femoral length reduction without angular deformities in the experimental limb averaging 3 mm at two weeks to 11.6 mm at 20 weeks after the surgical procedure in the rabbit and 11.5 mm at 12 weeks in the dog. Histologic sections demonstrated thermal injury to the physis followed by a progressive narrowing and eventual resorption of the growth plate.