In vivo dynamic bone growth modulation is less detrimental but as effective as static growth modulation

Longitudinal bone growth, which occurs in growth plates, has important implications in pediatric orthopedics. Mechanical loads are essential to normal bone growth, but excessive loads can lead to progressive deformities. In order to compare the effects of in vivo static and dynamic loading on bone growth rate and growth plate histomorphometry, a finely controlled, normalized and equivalent compression was applied for a period of two weeks on the seventh caudal vertebra (Cd7) of rats during their pubertal growth spurt. The load was sustained (0.2 MPa, 0.0 Hz) in the static group and sinusoidally oscillating (0.2 MPa ± 30%, 0.1 Hz) in the dynamic group. Control and sham (operated but no load applied) groups were also studied. Cd7 growth rate was statistically reduced by 19% (p < 0.001) for both static and dynamic groups when compared to the sham group. Loading effects on growth plate histomorphometry were greater in the static than dynamic groups with significant reductions (p < 0.001) observed for growth plate thickness, proliferative chondrocyte number per column and hypertrophic chondrocyte height in the static group when compared to the sham group. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were also found between static and dynamic groups for growth plate thickness and proliferative chondrocyte number per column while the difference nearly reached significance (p = 0.014) for hypertrophic chondrocyte height. This in vivo study shows that static and dynamic loading are equally effective in modulating bone growth of rat caudal vertebrae. However, dynamic loading causes less detrimental effects on growth plate histomorphometry compared to static loading. This knowledge is greatly relevant for the improvement and/or development of new minimally invasive approaches, which are based on the local modulation of bone growth, to correct several progressive musculoskeletal deformities.

► We applied finely controlled and stress equivalent static and dynamic compression on rat caudal vertebrae.
► We investigated the in vivo effects of loading on bone growth rate and growth plate histomorphometry.
► Static and dynamic loading are equally effective in modulating bone growth of rat caudal vertebrae.
► Dynamic loading causes less detrimental effects on growth plate histomorphometry compared to static loading.