Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Though the tibial plateau fractures are common in clinic, the studies on the fracture healing mostly focus on the treatment, and the change of bone density in the healing process is seldom concerned.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bone density changes in the healing process of tibial plateau fractures in rabbits.
METHODS: All experiments were performed on 18 New Zealand rabbits. The tibial plateau fractures were created by oblique osteotomy, reduced, and then fixed by screws. At selected time points after operation (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks), the tibial specimens were harvested and the bone density of fracture zone was measured with a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner (DEXA). Intact tibia specimens of three rabbits were measured as controls.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The bone mineral density of the fracture aera declined slightly in the first week after fracture compared with the control group. It rose significantly in the second week postoperatively and descended vigorously from the third week. Then the value of bone mineral density varied slightly, except a little high relatively in the fourth week and a little low in the eighth week. From the changes of bone density in the healing process, it showed that the bone mineral density and bone formation reached the peak at 2 weeks after fracture under the good reduction and fixation.