Local Soft Tissue Compression Enhances Fracture Healing in a Rabbit Fibula

Abstract

Local soft tissue compression of fractures enhances fracture healing. The mechanism remains uncertain. Past studies have focused on intermittent soft tissue compression. We report a preliminary study assessing the relationship between constant soft tissue compression and enhanced fracture healing in an osteotomy model designed to minimize confounding variables. Fibulae of nine New Zealand white rabbits were bilaterally osteotomized, openly stabilized, and fitted with spandex stockinets. Soft tissue at the osteotomy site was unilaterally compressed using a deforming element (load=26 mmHg). The contralateral side was saved as the control and was not compressed. Osteotomies were monitored with weekly radiographs. All fibulae in both groups were healed 6 weeks postoperatively. Micro-CT analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume (BV) was then performed on both the experimental and control sides. Radiographic measurement of transverse callus-to-shaft ratios (TCSR) was compared.

The cytokines and micro‐environment of fracture haematoma: Current evidence

“…The effect of pressure on osteoprogenitor cell function has been determined previously (Bassett & Herrmann, ; Morr et al, ; Pavlin et al, ). Under compression, fracture sites exhibit increased chondrocytes and hyaline cartilage deposition compared with low‐pressure fracture sites (Bassett & Herrmann, ).…”

“…Pressure within the haematoma is the last of the physical characteristics that has been determined. The mechanical conditions of a fracture, including the pressure in the fracture site, influence the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs (Bassett & Herrmann, 1961;Morr, Chisena, Tomin, Mangino, & Lane, 2010;Pavlin, Dove, Zadro, & Gluhak-Heinrich, 2000). Mechanical loading of fracture site also has been shown to increase fracture haematoma oxygen tensions in an in vitro model (Witt, Duda, Bergmann, & Petersen, 2014).…”

“…Mechanical loading has been shown to increase osteoblast expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and type Collagen I mRNA in vitro over a time period of 24 hr to 6 days (Pavlin et al, ). Mechanical loading of soft tissues surrounding a fracture site improves bone healing, with increased bone mineral density observed (Morr et al, ). This could be attributable to the aforementioned factors.…”

Replacement, refinement, and reduction: Necessity of standardization and computational models for long bone fracture repair in animals

“…Rabbits are commonly used animals for the study of fracture repair. Beyond effects caused by pharmaceutical substances-especially growth factors- [68][69][70][71][72][73][74] the studies examined are primarily concerned with mechanical influences like shock wave therapy, 75,76 ultrasound, 77,78 electromagnetic field, 79 passive motion, 80 or mechanical parameters [81][82][83] as well as surgical techniques 84 or materials. 85,86 However, a standardized fracture model, which would be desirable at least for comparison of technical influences between different studies, does not exist.…”

Efficient Assessment of ‘Instantaneous pK’ Values from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

“…Besides being part of most biological life, also more than one fourth of the earth’ surface is covered with its enriched sediments, especially the marine sea floor consists of vast calcite and aragonite deposits [1] . In turn, all natural water sources contain dissolved calcium and (bi)carbonate ions – with concentrations in tap water typically varying from 1 to 135 and 20 to 400 mg/l, respectively [2–5] . As a consequence, the precipitation of calcium carbonate is a notorious problem in both technical processes and household cleaning.…”