Progressive deformities in bones and growth cartilages are commonly thought to be controlled by the 'Hueter-Volkmann Law' which states that growth is retarded by increased mechanical compression, and accelerated by reduced loading of the growth plate in comparison with normal values. It has been confirmed by previous studies that a constant load, superimposed on the ambient in vivo loading of a growth plate will modulate its rate of growth. This phenomenon has only been quantified for a few individual bones of individual species, and the general rules which determine a particular bone's response to load as a function of its physiologically normal growth rate, dimensions and activity of the growth plate cells are unknown. Many of the variables which covary with (and probably govern) bone growth rates have been identified. This work will provide greater understanding of the mechanical regulation of bone growth and eventually permit quantitative design of mechanical treatment by techniques such as bracing, muscle stimulation and surgery. The proposed studies will quantity the rate of endochondral growth of long bones and vertebrae under normal conditions and with mechanical compression and distraction. Four different species will be studied at an early stage of growth and nearer to skeletal maturity when the bones are growing more slowly. In additional experiments the feasibility of 'part-time' treatment will be investigated by studying the effects of physis loading during night-time and day-time only. The characteristic properties of the growth plate (dimensions, numbers of cells and measures of cellular activity) will be documented and compared between growth plates which had experienced different applied mechanical stresses. Statistical models will be developed to show how the mechanical modulation of growth varies in relationship to characteristic properties of each growth plate. These analyses will be guided in part by known physiological relationships between properties of growth plates. The result of this work will be an understanding of how a given physis should be expected to respond to a given stress, and this will be helpful to understand the progression of skeletal deformities and to guide their treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AR046543-01
Application #
6042096
Study Section
Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Study Section (ORTH)
Program Officer
Panagis, James S
Project Start
2000-02-01
Project End
2004-01-31
Budget Start
2000-02-01
Budget End
2001-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$254,683
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Department
Orthopedics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066811191
City
Burlington
State
VT
Country
United States
Zip Code
05405
Aronsson, David D; Stokes, Ian A F (2011) Nonfusion treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by growth modulation and remodeling. J Pediatr Orthop 31:S99-106
Villemure, Isabelle; Stokes, Ian A F (2009) Growth plate mechanics and mechanobiology. A survey of present understanding. J Biomech 42:1793-803
Stokes, Ian A F; Clark, Katherine C; Farnum, Cornelia E et al. (2007) Alterations in the growth plate associated with growth modulation by sustained compression or distraction. Bone 41:197-205
Stokes, Ian A F (2007) Analysis and simulation of progressive adolescent scoliosis by biomechanical growth modulation. Eur Spine J 16:1621-8
Stokes, Ian A F; Aronsson, David D; Dimock, Abigail N et al. (2006) Endochondral growth in growth plates of three species at two anatomical locations modulated by mechanical compression and tension. J Orthop Res 24:1327-34
Stokes, Ian A; Gwadera, Jodie; Dimock, Abigail et al. (2005) Modulation of vertebral and tibial growth by compression loading: diurnal versus full-time loading. J Orthop Res 23:188-95
Stokes, Ian A F; Gardner-Morse, Mack (2004) Muscle activation strategies and symmetry of spinal loading in the lumbar spine with scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 29:2103-7
Stokes, Ian A; Mente, Peter L; Iatridis, James C et al. (2002) Growth plate chondrocyte enlargement modulated by mechanical loading. Stud Health Technol Inform 88:378-81
Stokes, Ian A; Gwadera, Jodie; Dimock, Abigail et al. (2002) Mechanical modulation of vertebral and tibial growth: diurnal versus full-time loading. Stud Health Technol Inform 91:97-100
Stokes, Ian A; Mente, Peter L; Iatridis, James C et al. (2002) Enlargement of growth plate chondrocytes modulated by sustained mechanical loading. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84-A:1842-8