Crecimiento femorotibial en miembros inmovilizados de rata

An experimental study has been carried out using rats stills in the growth stage, whose right hindlimbs have been immobilized. Weekly, during four weeks, the animals were destroyed and measurements taken of the tibias and femurs, establishing that the rate of tibialis growth was higher in the immobilized limb than in the free limb (p. o. 001). The femurs, however, showed a similarity of measurement in both limbs. Our findings show that immobilization of a limb in a functional position is in no way prejudicial to bone growth.