Delayed distraction in bone lengthening. Improved healing in lambs.
We compared delayed distraction (DD) with immediate distraction (ID) in bone-lengthening. Open femoral diaphyseal osteotomy was performed on 24 three-month-old lambs, and external distractor fixators were applied. In the ID group (n 12), distraction commenced on the first postoperative day; in the DD group (n 12), distraction was delayed until the tenth day after surgery. In all the animals, the femur was lengthened by 2 cm at the rate of 1 mm/day. The animals were killed 1, 2, and 3 months postoperatively. Radiography and densitometry of the lengthened callus showed that DD, compared with ID, improved the quality of the callus with quicker, denser, and more homogeneous bone formation.
Gil-Albarova
J
J
Department of Orthopedics, Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
de Pablos
J
J
Franzeb
M
M
Cañadell
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000379:methods*; D005269:Femur / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010027:Osteotomy; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors