title: The effects of function and fixation stiffness on experimental bone healing.
abstract: In tibial shaft fractures in the rabbit, the early stage of bone healing after metal-plate fixation was compared with that after treatment with a long or short plaster cast. The animals were killed after 6 weeks. The plate-fixed bones healed more rapidly, with less periosteal callus and less angulation of the fragments, than those treated with a cast. The results indicated that function of the muscles and joints of the injured limb, including weight bearing, promotes bony union, whereas the degree of fixation stiffness is relatively unimportant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terjesen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svenningsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000502:physiology; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing