Effects of Head Trauma on Fracture Healing. An Experimental Study Performed on Guiena Pigs
Temel OGUZ, Petek KORKUSUZ, Semih KESKIL, Bulent AYKANAT, Ulken ORS, Feza KORKUSUZ
2 nd. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Dr. Muhittin Ulker First Aid and Traffic Hospital Balgat, Turkey
Keywords: Head Trauma, Fracture Healing, Histology.
Abstract
Systemic and local factors are known to enhance fracture healing. Electric current, magnetic field and mechanical forces may also effect this process. Clinical studies presented that the production of callus and the healing rate of fractures are increased by head injury. The mechanism how osteogenesis is stimulated by head injury remains obscure. The effect of blunt head injury on fracture healing was assessed in guinea pigs by an experimental study. A fracture was established on the right tibiae of the guinea pigs and the effect of head injury on fracture healing was evaluated macroscopically and histologically on day 15, 21 and 28. The results were compared to the control group in which head injury was not utilized but had a similar tibial fracture. An abundant callus formation was observed in the head injured animals on day 21 and 28 macroscopically. Histological findings revealed thickening in the callus formation in the same time interval. The present model, is effective in simulating a standardized head injury and an extremity fracture. This model will be used in further studies where the callus formation will quantitatively be assessed and the mechanical effectiveness will he evaluated.