title: A Novel Rat Model of Intramedullary Tibia Fracture Fixation Using Polyetheretherketone Threaded Rod.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rat fracture fixation models have been widely adopted, but current implant designs suffer from operational difficulty, massive soft-tissue dissection, and radiological intervention. The authors developed a new tibia fracture-healing model using minor invasive intramedullary fixations with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) threaded rods, which have excellent x-ray translucency and no magnetic resonance artifact.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tibia fractures of 6 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fixed with intramedullary PEEK threaded rods. X-ray examination was performed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Histological analysis was conducted via hematoxylin-eosin staining of nondecalcified tissue sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiological fracture healing was observed at 8 weeks postoperatively. Histology demonstrated fracture gap bridging and bone ingrowth adjacent to PEEK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This innovative model is simple and effective, providing a new selection in future biomedical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; and Department of Radiological Diagnosis and Interventional Treatment, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; and Department of Radiological Diagnosis and Interventional Treatment, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; and Department of Radiological Diagnosis and Interventional Treatment, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yuheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; and Department of Radiological Diagnosis and Interventional Treatment, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Guibo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu