title: Comparison of non-compression and compression interlocking intramedullary nailing in rabbit femoral shaft osteotomy model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to compare non-compression and compression intramedullary nailing in an experimental femoral shaft osteotomy model in terms of radiological, histological, and biomechanical aspects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four white New Zealand rabbits (average weight 4.3 kg; range 4 to 4.8 kg) were divided into three groups. A right femoral osteotomy was performed in all rabbits and all femurs were fixed with titanium compression interlocking intramedullary nail. After locking of nails, no compression was performed in group 1 while 0.5 mm and 1 mm compressions were performed in group 2 and 3, respectively. All rabbits were sacrificed four weeks after operation. Fracture sites were examined histologically and radiologically. Finite element analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiological scores of groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than group 1. There was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 radiologically. Best histological scores were achieved in group 2. According to finite element analyses, osteotomy site in group 2 was exposed to 1240 N of load and 34.5 MPa of mean stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compression interlocking intramedullary nailing provides faster fracture healing than non-compression interlocking intramedullary nailing. Best histological fracture healing scores were obtained with 0.5 mm compression performed at the fracture site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon Turkey. bakiemre61@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet Emre
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baki
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aldemir
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duygun
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Gökçen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kerimoğlu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001858:Bone Nails; D018483:Diaphyses; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D010027:Osteotomy; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography