The effect of the presence of muscle tissue in a bone healing site.
OBJECTIVE
The recovery of a bone fracture is a process that is not yet fully understood. The literature conflicts on the results obtained by the interposition of foreign tissue inside a damaged bone. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the effect of placing muscle tissue between the stumps of a fractured bone.


METHODS
The study was carried out on 10 rabbits divided into 2 groups (n = 5): Group 1--partial fracture of the humerus and interposition of muscle tissue; Group 2--complete fracture of the humerus and interposition of muscle tissue. The fractured limb of all animals was immobilized for 8 weeks. At the end of this time, the rabbits were killed and their operated humeri were carefully removed for roentgenological and histological assessment.


RESULTS
All humeri of Group 1 recovered their integrity and normal aspect. However, the healing of the humeri of Group 2 was not perfect. Gross angulation of the bone diaphysis occurred in all animals, and immature trabecular bone, osteochondral tissue, and persistence of muscle tissue substituted normal bone.


CONCLUSIONS
Interposed muscle does not affect partial bone fracture healing but causes instability in a complete fracture.
Petroianu
Andy
A
Department of Surgery, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. petroian@medicina.ufmg.br
Corsetti
Renato Abranches
RA
Alberti
Luiz Ronaldo
LR
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*