Variance of radial growth in vascularized and nonvascularized free bone grafts including epiphysis in puppies.
A portion of radius including the proximal epiphysis was either transplanted or excised and replaced in puppies. In these growing animals, growth in long bone grafts vascularized by periosteal and endosteal vessels but not epiphyseal vessels, was significantly greater than in nonvascularized grafts, but was less than normal growth (63 percent to 67 percent of normal). In nonvascularized grafts, the epiphyses closed one month postoperatively, while they closed at five months in vascularized grafts and at six months in normal controls. This study confirms that approximately two-thirds of normal longitudinal bone growth can be accomplished with a bone transplant that includes a vascular pedicle supplying the endosteum and periosteum, but not the physis.