Heterotopic microvascular epiphyseal plate transplantation: a new model using the rabbit metatarsal.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new vascularized epiphyseal plate model in the New Zealand White rabbit using a metatarsal epiphyseal plate having limited longitudinal growth potential. Such a model could be utilized in various experiments aimed at manipulating epiphyseal plate growth. The viability of the harvested live subject grafts was demonstrated with continued epiphyseal uptake during Tc99-MDP radionuclide bone scanning. The currently described models used in epiphyseal transplant research all involve long bone epiphyseal plates with significantly greater growth potential than the new metatarsal model. This new model therefore fills a void in the field by allowing investigators to transplant a growth plate with limited growth potential into any heterotopic site and study the effects of various hormonal and physical influences upon epiphyseal plate growth performance.