In young rabbits of five to six weeks of age we revealed bony bridging as constant reaction of the epiphyseal cartilage on drilling with a 2 mm diameter trephine into the distal femur growth plate. Gross growth disturbances will be the consequence of such partial closures. For this present study we inserted one 2 mm Kirschner-wire across the epiphyseal plate of the distal femur. The drilling was directed distally. During longitudinal growth the epiphysis moves away from the wire, that remains 8 weeks after the operation completely within the metaphyseal cancellous bone. Four, 8, 12 and 16 weeks postoperatively one group of the rabbits were sacrificed. After radiological examination of the explanted femurs fixation and embedding in methylmetacrylate for morphological examination was performed. Our histological results reveal, that the crossing Kirschner-wire does not irritate the growth plate, even the physiological structure of the epiphyseal cartilage in the direct contact to the metal implant is not altered. The defect within the epiphyseal plate left after the relative retraction of the wire caused by growth activity fills with cancellous bone. Its trabecular structure is markedly thinner than the spongy bone within the metaphysis and shows longitudinal orientation. These trabeculae undergo segmental disruption by the growth pressure of the surrounding epiphyseal plate. In consequence there is no bone bridging and growth alterations by the Kirschner-wire crossing of the epiphyseal plate. This proves experimentally the clinical experienced therapeutic value of Kirschner-wires for internal fixation of dislocated joint injuries.
