Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Orthop. Sep 18, 2017; 8(9): 688-696
Published online Sep 18, 2017. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i9.688
Table 1 M-response amplitudes in leg muscles
t-points of EMG-testingM. gastrocnemius
M. tibialis anterior
mean ± SE (mV)Difference vs initial (%)mean ± SE (mV)Difference vs initial (%)
Initial (before experiment)32.0 ± 2.9-22.6 ± 1.3-
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction13.4 ± 3.1-58.18.8 ± 1.9-61.1
30 d of fixation10.6 ± 4.6-66.98.3 ± 1.3-63.3
30 d without apparatus16.3 ± 5.8-49.18.9 ± 0.1-60.6
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction12.0 ± 1.7-62.512.7 ± 1.6a-43.8
30 d of fixation11.9 ± 1.2a-62.810.5 ± 0.5a-53.5
30 d without apparatus18.3 ± 4.6a-42.814.0 ± 2.0a-38.1
Table 2 Areas of nerves histologic transverse sections (An)
Nerves/group and t-pointsTibial nerve
Peroneal nerve
(mean ± SD) (104 mKm2)Difference vs contra-lateral (%)(mean ± SD) (104 mKm2)Difference vs contra-lateral (%)
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction353.7 ± 34.8341.6 ± 9.4-2
30 d of fixation291.6 ± 26.2-463.6 ± 1.1-11a
30 d without apparatus248.7 ± 29.2353.3 ± 8.8-3
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction287.3 ± 60.0-256.2 ± 3.4-1
30 d of fixation306.8 ± 76.715ac75.8 ± 16.3-1c
30 d without apparatus224.8 ± 31.110c46.5 ± 1.11
Table 3 Summary fascicular areas (Af) in transverse histologic sections of nerves
Nerves/group and t-pointsTibial nerve
Peroneal nerve
(mean ± SD) (104 mKm2)Difference vs contra-lateral (%)(mean ± SD) (104 mKm2)Difference vs contra-lateral (%)
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction68.7 ± 6.9-818.8 ± 8.1-15
30 d of fixation73.5 ± 5.8-740.1 ± 2.3-1
30 d without apparatus54.2 ± 4.89a27.8 ± 9.514a
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction83.7 ± 13.5-9a25.7 ± 2.5-16a
30 d of fixation86.8 ± 13.5-429.6 ± 7.01
30 d without apparatus82.0 ± 6.4525.9 ± 0.60c
Table 4 Numerical densities of microvessels (NAmv) in endoneurium
Nerves/group andt-pointsTibial nerve
Peroneal nerve
mean ± SE (mm-2)Difference vs intact (%)mean ± SE (mm-2)Difference vs intact (%)
Intact182 ± 22-141 ± 8-
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction180 ± 11-1.1192 ± 47a36.17
30 d of fixation203 ± 3a11.54157 ± 3611.35
30 d without apparatus187 ± 102.75197 ± 52a39.72
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction135 ± 21a-25.8c164 ± 8a16.31c
30 d of fixation181 ± 30-0.5c171 ± 29a21.28c
30 d without apparatus219 ± 22a20.3c164 ± 28a16.31c
Table 5 Average morphometric parameters of tibial myelinated nerve fibers (mean ± SE)
Parameters/group and t-pointsShare of degenerated nerve fibers (%)Nerve fibers diameters (mKm)Axonal diameters (mKm)Myelin sheath thickness (mKm)
Intact control1.6 ± 0.26.75 ± 0.014.63 ± 0.131.06 ± 0.02
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction5.0 ± 0.7a6.91 ± 0.174.57 ± 0.191.16a ± 0.01
30 d of fixation4.0 ± 0.9a6.77 ± 0.474.44 ± 0.28a1.17 ± 0.10
30 d without apparatus4.4 ± 2.46.61 ± 3.194.37 ± 2.10a1.12 ± 0.64
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction2.4 ± 0.7b6.29 ± 0.134.63 ± 0.100.83 ± 0.02a
30 d of fixation0.5 ± 0.2ac6.88 ± 0.114.99 ± 0.10a0.95 ± 0.12
30 d without apparatus0.9 ± 0.1ac7.26 ± 0.13a5.05 ± 0.09a1.11 ± 0.05
Table 6 Average morphometric parameters of peroneal myelinated nerve fibers (mean ± SE)
Parameters/group andt-pointsShare of degenerated nerve fibers (%)Nerve fibers diameters (mKm)Axonal diameters (mKm)Myelin sheath thickness (mKm)
Intact control1.9 ± 0.36.46 ± 0.074.39 ± 0.081.04 ± 0.04
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction6.0 ± 1.4a5.37 a ± 0.413.69 ± 0.29a0.84 ± 0.09a
30 d of fixation4.3 ± 1.3a6.09 ± 0.634.44 ± 0.570.98 ± 0.06
30 d without apparatus4.2 ± 0.4a5.90 ± 0.434.10 ± 0.10a0.90 ± 0.17a
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction4.0 ± 0.8ac5.56 ± 0.26a3.70 ± 0.53a0.92 ± 0.13
30 d of fixation3.3 ± 0.1ac5.62 ± 0.07a3.91 ± 0.09a0.85 a ± 0.07
30 d without apparatus2.4 ± 0.6c6.17 ± 0.454.14 ± 0.161.01 ± 0.06
Table 7 Average morphometric parameters of articular cartilage (mean ± SD)
Parameters/group and t-pointsCartilage thickness (mKm)Chondrocytes volumetric density (%)Isogenic groups
Empty lacunas
(% of chondrocyte sample)
Intact control475.5 ± 1.319.03 ± 1.5114.513.6
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction710.3 ± 7.16a4.13 ± 0.28a24.729.97
30 d of fixation421.1 ± 4.81a5.1 ± 0.27a20.1820.85
30 d without apparatus416.9 ± 4.37a5.6 ± 0.19a16.121.12
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction356.45 ± 1.55ac8.34 ± 0.48ac25.624.3
30 d of fixation392.7 ± 2.12ac6.8 ± 0.45ac28.816.3
30 d without apparatus464.6 ± 6.51c7.96 ± 0.37ac29.915.4
Table 8 Content of sulfur and calcium in articular cartilage (mean ± SD, weight %)
Parameters/group and t-pointsωSωCa
Intact control1.26 ± 0.020.15 ± 0.02
M-group - manual distraction (1 mm/d in 4 steps)
28 d of distraction0.71 ± 0.01a0.19 ± 0.02a
30 d of fixation0.96 ± 0.02a0.39 ± 0.03a
30 d without apparatus0.94 ± 0.02a0.27 ± 0.02a
A-group - automatic distraction (1 mm/d in 60 steps)
28 d of distraction0.79 ± 0.01a0.16 ± 0.01c
30 d of fixation1.09 ± 0.02ac0.18 ± 0.02c
30 d without apparatus1.15 ± 0.02c0.20 ± 0.02ac