Evaluation of Intra-Articular Injection of Bevacizumab on the Prevention of Physeal Bar Formation in Type 4 Salter Harris Model in Rats: A Pilot Study

Zeinab Imani; Nesa Milan; Hossein Nematian; Leila Aghaghazvini; Mojtaba Sedaghat; Mohammad Bagher Ahadpour Sefidan; Alireza Mirbagheri; Mohammad Hossein Nabian

doi:10.18502/jost.v7i3.8103

Zeinab Imani Center of Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research (COTAR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nesa Milan Center of Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research (COTAR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Nematian Center of Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research (COTAR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Leila Aghaghazvini Department of Radiology, Shariati Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mojtaba Sedaghat Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Bagher Ahadpour Sefidan Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Alireza Mirbagheri Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Joint Affiliated with Research Center for Biomedical Technologies and Robotics (RCBTR), Advanced Medical Technologies and Equipment Institute (AMTEI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Nabian Center of Orthopedic Trans-Disciplinary Applied Research (COTAR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jost.v7i3.8103

Keywords: Salter-Harris Fractures; Growth Plate Fracture; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; Bevacizumab; Orthopedics

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to achieve a new method as a preventive treatment for complications of growth plate fractures. In this study, we investigate the effect of intra-articular injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) antibody bevacizumab on the repair process of articular cartilage in a type 4 Salter Harris injury model.

Methods: A Salter Harris injury was created on the proximal tibial growth plate of 14 rats by a 1.8 mm drill. The rats were randomly classified into two groups: group LD, administration of high-dose intra-articular injection of bevacizumab (250 μg), and group HD, administration of low-dose intra-articular injection of bevacizumab (50 μg) after injury. The rats were killed 2 months postoperatively and their tibia underwent micro-computed tomography (CT) analysis, histological assessment, and measurement of tibial bone length.

Results: Bony bar formation was observed in 71% of the samples in the high-dose group and in 100% of the low-dose group. Relative increase in physeal cartilage thickness (P = 0.007) and decrease in bony bar formation (P = 0.029) were observed significantly in the high dose group. There was no significant difference in tibia length between the two groups (P = 0.150).

Conclusion: Intra-articular administration of bevacizumab demonstrated positive restorative effects. We suggest this method of treatment due to its potential of improving cartilage repair and capability to be used as a main or adjacent treatment in osteochondral defects.