The role of periosteal tension in the growth of long bones.

Vertical or circumferential periosteal incisions were made over one tibia of anaesthetized rats, supplemented by localized periosteal stripping in two of the experimental groups. The rats were killed 5 weeks later and tibial lengths measured. Circumferential periosteal division plus periosteal elevation produced the greatest ipsilateral increase in tibial length. In this group of rats the alignment of cortical blood vessels provided evidence that sliding of the periosteum and a release of periosteal tension are associated with the gain in length. However, anisomelia, though not seen following vertical periosteal division alone, did occur after vertical division and periosteal stripping. This supports suggestions that both growth plate decompression and vascular phenomena influence skeltal growth rates after trauma.