Effect of high-energy extracorporeal shock waves on the immature epiphysis in a rabbit model

Introduction We investigated the effect of high-energy extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) on immature tibial epiphysis in a rabbit model. Materials and methods Twenty New Zealand white immature rabbit were used in this study. Animals were divided into two groups and they received 14 kW, 0.6 mJ/mm(2), 1,500 or 3,000 shots for three times with an interval of 7 days. After 6 weeks all rabbits were killed. The all tibia epiphysis were assessed by histology. The epiphyseal plaque thickness of right tibiae of the 3,000-shot ESW group was significantly higher than those of the 1,500-shot ESW group and the left tibia epiphyses of the 1,500- and 3,000-shot ESW groups as controls (P < 0.05). Results The epiphyseal plaque thickness of right tibiae of the 1,500-shot ESW group was significantly higher than that of the left tibia epiphyses of the 1,500- and 3,000-shot ESW groups as controls (P < 0.05). Discussion We demonstrated that high-energy ESW stimulated the growth of immature rabbit epiphysis. The long-term effect of shock wave on the immature rabbit epiphysis deserves further study.