Correlation of histology of healed fractures and tissue surrounding implants with ultrasonographic and radiographic appearance.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if there was histological correlation with ultrasonographic images of healed fractures and implant-associated tissue after fracture treatment by plate osteotomy.


METHODS
Eight adult dogs were included in this retrospective study. Ultrasonography (B-mode and power Doppler) and radiography were performed before plate removal. Surgical biopsies were taken of the fracture site and the tissue adjacent to the plate. These were stained with haematoxylin and eosin to assess histomorphology and bone content and immunolabelled with CD31 to assess vascularity.


RESULTS
Ultrasound and radiographic diagnoses of a healed fracture correlated with histological finding of bone healing. Ultrasonography and histology findings of vascularity were also highly correlated. The tissue surrounding the surgical implants was significantly more vascularised on both ultrasonography and histology than that at the fracture site itself.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose fracture healing in plated fractures. Power Doppler ultrasonography examination of fracture healing should be performed away from surgical implants to avoid false-positive results of vascularisation.
Risselada
M
M
Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
van Bree
H
H
Kramer
M
M
Chiers
K
K
Duchateau
L
L
Verleyen
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000662:veterinary; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation / Q000662:veterinary; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1