Abstract
‘Distraction’ is the technique of lengthening of bones to correct deformities in limbs of individuals; it is established practice in orthopaedic surgery. Large increases in length of the bone can be achieved, but the associated soft tissues do not appear to be able to respond as rapidly. The aim of this study was to assess the response of muscles in the leg of New Zealand rabbits to distraction. At the end of a period of lengthening, the function of the limb and that of the muscles (tibialis anterior and soleus) was tested and compared with the histology to measure the level of accommodation that can be achieved by the muscle. The results show that muscle responds more slowly to the lengthening regime than the supporting bone. Thus it is the muscles' ability to respond to the distraction that is an important factor when deciding the rate of distraction.
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