Distraction frequency and the gastrocnemius muscle in tibial lengthening: Studies in rabbits

Abstract

We compared the effect of various distraction frequencies on the gastrocnemius muscle by evaluating the histological findings, intramuscular enzyme contents, and DNA contents. In 15 rabbits, both tibiae were distracted 1 mm per day. The distraction frequency was 2 steps (0.5 mm/12 hour) by hand on the right side and 120 steps (0.0083 mm/12 minutes) by an auto-distractor on the left. The rabbits were divided into 3 subgroups based on length gain: 10%, 20%, and 30%. Histologically, there were no signs of fibrosis or edema and no differences in the number of necrotic cells, and intramuscular enzyme contents between the 2- and 120-step groups. The DNA content, however, was higher in the 120-step group at 30% lengthening in the middle of the muscle belly, and at 20% and 30% lengthening in the musculotendinous junction. Our findings suggest that an increase in the distraction frequency may promote DNA synthesis in the muscle, thus providing better muscle accommodation during bone lengthening.