O1093 CELLULAR REGENERATION DURING CALLUS DISTRACTION

Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe the histologic adaptation of the femoral artery wall to the strechtening derived from femoral lengthening by callus distraction. Methods: In 32 New Zealand white rabbits a left femoral bone lengthening was carried out with a total distraction of 30% of initial length. The study was divided into eight progressives stages and at the end of each stage both femoral arteries were excised and prepared for light microscopy and ultrastructural analysis. Results: Light microscopy: Changes in the media layer architecture were observed since lengthening of the 15% of the initial length, reaching its maximum by lengthening of 30% of initial length. Six month after the end of the distraction, the media layer still showed morphologic changes compared to the unlengthened group. U.E.: During the greatest distraction period and one month thereafter the Smooth Muscle cells of the media lost its contractile characteristics and greatly increased their syntesis organelles, and m...