title: The importance of the hematoma for fracture healing in rats.
abstract: In 3 groups of rats, bilateral femoral fractures were produced. The fracture hematoma was removed on one side after 30 min, 2 days and 4 days in the 3 groups, respectively. The fractures were mechanically tested at 4 weeks. When the fracture hematoma was removed early, callus production, bending moment, and fracture energy were decreased. Removal of the hematoma at Day 2 or 4 impaired fracture healing even more, as both bending moment, bending rigidity and fracture energy were greatly decreased compared to the control fractures. We conclude that the fracture hematoma favors healing; removal of the hematoma after some days is more harmful to healing than when the hematoma is removed in the initial phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grundnes
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reikerås
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004548:Elasticity; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors