Longitudinal growth after replantation of immature extremities on rats.

Replantation of right hindlimbs in 76 immature rats was performed to study the factors affecting longitudinal growth of replanted extremities. There was a significant difference in tibia length between the replanted limb and the contralateral normal limb. The difference was significantly influenced by the ischemic interval (2 vs 4 hours), but not by suture method (intact vessels, vascular anastomosis with 10-0 nylon or 11-0 nylon). The replantation of immature extremities should be promptly undertaken because of the vulnerability of the epiphysis to ischemic insult.