J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1978 Dec;13(4):615-628. 10.4055/jkoa.1978.13.4.615.

The Role of Y and Greater Trochanteric Growth Cartilage upon the Acetabular Development of Rabbits: An Experimental Study

• Woo YK
• Moon MS
• Hwang JD

• KMID: 2460316
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1978.13.4.615

Abstract

It has been known that osseous stability of the hip is dependent upon the inclination, anteversion and depth of acetabulum and also upon neck-shaft angle and anteversion of femur. Acetabulum enlarges from two different growth centers; one from the concave articular surface cartilage and the other from the triradiate cartilage. The former contributes primarily to the thickness of acetabular wall, where as, the latter to the central enlargement of the acetabular socket. Additionally the shape of acetabulum can be changed by deformity of the femoral head and neck, which can be explained by Wolff's and Hueter-Volkmann's laws. Yet there are still many factors to be clarified by clinical researchers in the future Authors in this experiment tried to clarify the role of triradiate cartilage and greater trochanteric growth plate upon the development of acetabulum. The material used for this study consiated of 30 rabbits of both sexes, aged 8 weeks. Animals were divided into 3 groups, and each group consisted of 10 rabbits In group I. hip was not injured and used as a Control: in group II, right greater trochanter with its growth plate was destructed completely; in group III, triradiate cartilage of right side was destructed. Subsequent to injury of Y cartilage ot greater trochanter with its growth plate, radiographs of the pelvis including hips were obtained weekly on each rabbit over 6 weeks period. and to evaluate the effect of injury upon the hip development acetatular angle, C-E angle, and acetabular depth and width were measured. The following results were obtained; 1. The shape of acetabulum of rabbits have showe remarable developmental changes until the 10 weeks of age after birth, but the changes became less remarkable by age of the 14 weeks. Thereafter it remained unchanged. 2. In group II, at the age of 14 weeks, compared with the values of the normal hip, the acetabular angle showed an increase of 1.9 degrees, and the center dege angle and acetabular depth showed a decrease of 3.21 degrees and 0.43mm respectirely. 3. In group III, at the age of 14 weeks, compared with the values of the normal hip, the acetabular angle increased by 18.9 degress while the center-edge angle decreased by 22.8 degrees. The acetabular depth showed a decrease of 1.81mm and the acetabular width showed an increase of 0.73mm. These observations suggest that the development of acetabulum depends largely upon the growth of triradiate cartilage, and also is affected secondarily by valgalization of femoral neck which is resulted by destruction of greater trochanteric growth cartilage.

MeSH Terms

Acetabulum*
Animals
Cartilage*
Congenital Abnormalities
Femur Neck
Femur*
Growth Plate
Head
Hip
Jurisprudence
Neck
Parturition
Pelvis
Rabbits*