Description
The presentation opens with Ole Rahbek greeting the audience and expressing gratitude for the invitation. He introduces himself as a researcher from Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, setting the stage to discuss the topic of guided growth, primarily based on his experiences and ongoing literature review. Rahbek references historic concepts of guided growth in orthopedics, beginning with Andry's1741 illustration of tree growth and Hueter-Volkmann's theories on the impact of mechanical forces on bone development. He elaborates on Frost's control modeling theory from 1979, which asserts that both tensile and compressive forces are essential for stimulating growth.
Rahbek shares findings from his group's studies, including MRI scans on pigs showing how tension band plating affects growth plate activity. He points out that with proper treatment, growth activity can rebound following the removal of implants. The discussion shifts to the treatment of coronal and sagittal deformities and the potential for exploring rotational deformities.
The presentation notes the importance of guided growth in addressing deformities without inducing malalignment or complications in the growth plate. Existing literature is examined, highlighting an Israelian group's work involving rabbits that demonstrated the capacity for induced rotation through plated inter-plate angles. However, he also warns of the challenges in achieving accurate implant placement due to anatomical difficulties encountered.
Subsequent studies, including a Turkish group's examination of tibial rotation, are discussed, revealing varied results and complications associated with implant placement. Rahbek also addresses a French study involving a novel guidance method for inserting pins, which successfully corrected knee rotations in children but raised concerns over inhibited limb growth and postoperative stiffness.
Toward the end, Rahbek introduces a new concept for a 3D-printed titanium plate designed to enable controlled rotation without compressing the growth plate. He presents preliminary research conducted on cadaver specimens and pigs, boasting promising outcomes in terms of induced bone rotation and longitudinal growth with minimal complications. Rahbek concludes by expressing optimism for future research directions and ongoing funding efforts for further experimental studies.