ArticleFrontiers in physiology2026
Effect of distraction length on the morphology of knee cartilage in a rat model of femoral distraction osteogenesis.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the dose-dependent impact of femoral distraction length on knee joint integrity and characterized the molecular mechanisms driving cartilage degeneration in a rat distraction osteogenesis (DO) model. Methods: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats underwent femoral DO and were randomly assigned to three groups: Control (5 mm), Group A (10 mm), and Group B (20 mm). Following a consolidation phase, knee joint morphology and subchondral bone microstructure were evaluated using digital radiography and micro-computed tomography. Histological assessment included H&E, Safranin O-Fast Green, and Masson's trichrome staining. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis quantified the expression of catabolic (IL-1β, MMP-13, RANKL) and anabolic (COL-II, SOX9, OPG) biomarkers in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Results: Radiographic and histological findings demonstrated successful osseointegration and physiological tolerance in the Control and Group A. Conversely, Group B exhibited severe osteoarthritis-like pathology, including cartilage erosion, proteoglycan depletion and subchondral sclerosis. Quantitative analysis confirmed significantly elevated bone mineral density and bone volume fraction in the subchondral bone of Group B ( Conclusion: Extensive distraction (20 mm, ∼50% of original length) surpasses the physiological adaptive capacity of the knee joint, triggering irreversible degeneration via IL-1β/MMP-13-mediated sterile inflammation and OPG/RANKL-driven osteochondral uncoupling. While moderate distraction (10 mm, ∼25% length) remains compensatory, this pathological transition highlights the critical necessity of joint protection strategies when limb lengthening targets exceed ∼25% of the original bone length.
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