Effect of soft-tissue attachment on tibial fracture healing in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To compare tibial fracture healing in rats with or without soft-tissue attachment.


METHODS
The left tibias of 30 Wistar rats were osteotomised and equally randomised into 3 groups. In the avascular segmental fracture group, an 8-mm bone segment were first removed and then immediately put back. In the vascular segmental fracture group, the 8-mm bone segment was not displaced, with periosteal and muscular attachments. In the simple fracture group, a simple fracture in the middle tibia was made. All tibias were then stabilised with an intramedullary nail through the patellar tendon, and the wound was closed with sutures. After 8 weeks, all left tibias and 9 of the intact right tibias were harvested. Bone mineral content and density of the calluses were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning. The maximum torsional strength, rigidity, and energy to failure of the tibias were measured.


RESULTS
All tibias healed (callus formation), without mal-union or pin migration. The 3 groups did not differ significantly in terms of torsional strength, rigidity, energy to failure, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density. The mean torsional strength of the 9 intact tibias was significantly higher than the healed tibias (14.9 vs. 10.6 Nmm, p=0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Soft-tissue detachment from bone segments did not impair bone healing in rats.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rikshospitalet Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Olav
O
Reikeras
Mona I
MI
Winge
Magne
M
Røkkum
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D010027:Osteotomy; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013977:Tibia / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery
animal experimentation; fracture healing