OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of shock waves upon the growth plate in rabbits by varying the energy and number of applied waves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six groups of five rabbits aged 5 weeks (Total: 30) were studied. OSSATRON (HMT) was used to generate shock waves. Animals were submitted to applications upon the proximal growth plate of the left tibia; the intensity (14, 21,28kV) and number of waves varied (1,000 and 4,000). The right tibia was used as control. Animals were sacrificed after six weeks when measurements of tibia length were taken and the growth plate was microscopically studied. Statistical tests were used to compare measurements of the growth plate area and tibia length with those obtained in the control group, as well as between study groups. RESULTS: In the present study, no statistically significant change was found in the measurements of the growth plate area and tibia length following application of shock waves in either group. A difference in the tibia growth tended to occur between the groups submitted to 1,000 impulses and the groups submitted to 4,000 impulses. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Hematomas were seen in the local of application in groups submitted to higher-energy waves and spontaneously subsided, special care being not required. CONCLUSIONS: The application of shock waves upon the proximal tibia in immature rabbits as described did not have any effect upon the growth plate, as shown by the evaluation methods used in the present study.
Rabbits; Growth plate; High-energy shock waves
