title: Histopathological examination of bone debris from reaming of interlocking intra-medullary nail fixation of long bone fractures with concomitant head injury.
abstract: The aim of study was to test, for the presence of osteoblasts in the reaming debris of intramedullary nailing of femoral and tibial fracture in patients with and without severe head injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of patients were studied. Group A (n = 32) had long bone fractures in addition to having head injuries. Group B (n = 35) had only long bone fractures. The fractures in the 2 groups of patients was treated by inter medullary nailing. Osteoblasts in the debris of the inter medullary nailing was compared between the 2 groups of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that histopathological specimens from reaming debris of fractured femur and tibia in patients with head injury showed osteoblasts in (82.9%) and in (27.5%) of patients with isolated long bone fractures (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healing indicators in diaphyseal fractures and concomitant head injury confirm fast and adequate healing in these patients and the presence of plenty of osteoblasts in their reaming debris may reflect a proof of accelerated fracture healing environment.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jahra Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Fathy G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Khallaf
authors.affiliation: Dept of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, PO Box 234923, 13110 Kuwait.
authors.forename: Elijah O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Kehinde
keywords: Acceleration of bone healing; Bone debris; Head injury; Long bone fractures; Osteoblasts