Effects of a Pediatric Physeal Slide-Traction Plate on Fracture Healing: An Experimental Study in a Goat Model

BACKGROUNDIt has been an intractable issue for the orthopaedic surgeons to treat pediatric epiphyseal injury and surrounding bone fracture using Kirschner wires and screws, etc. Earlier research has indicated that pediatric physeal slide-traction plate (PPSP) can fix bone fracture without restricting growth. However, it is not clear whether this material can be clinically used to treat pediatric epiphyseal injury and surrounding bone fracture. METHODSThe PPSP and standard plate (SP) were designed to configure to the femoral condyle. Twelve premature female goats were enrolled in this study. Fracture models were successfully established on goats, on which the right femurs were fixed with SP, and the left femurs were fixed with PPSP. Radiographic analysis and biomechanical tests were done at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTSThe callus gray density increased with time going on in each group, at the same postoperational time point, the PPSP group was higher than that of the SP group. The difference between PPSP group and SP group was statistically significant at the same stage (P