The recovery of growth cartilage after removal of bone bridge between epiphysis and metaphysis.

: The in vitro proliferation of chondrocytes from the tibial growth plate of rabbits has been examined following bone bridge formation and its resection in vivo. In vitro 3H-thymidine incorporation by growth cartilage with bone bridges was 53.5% of the contralateral normal growth cartilage, whereas it was 95.7%, following removal of the bone bridges performed five days before sacrifice. Relative 3H-thymidine incorporation into the growth cartilage decreased with increasing discrepancy of tibial length caused by persisting bone bridges. These experiments demonstrated that growth cartilage can recover its proliferative potential following removal of a mechanical growth inhibition caused by the formation of a bone bridge.