Metaphyseal aspects of stapling

Summary Blount stapling of the growth plate induced changes in the metaphyseal architecture, which progressed in correlation to the postoperative follow-up. The stereological investigations revealed a subtile reaction of the medial stapled tibial plate in a total of 37 domestic pigs (10 weeks old) during the postoperative follow-up (up to 17 weeks). Zone 1,380–1120 m distal to the plate representing bone modelling, and zone 2, 1180–2360 distally representing bone remodelling, were investigated separately. The findings in zone 2 were very similar to zone 1 but were less extensive. The parameter most sensitive to stapling was the surface density; the trabecular distance showed parallel but less impressive findings. The specific surface and trabecular diameter changed with some delay. The last parameter to change was the volume density.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft