Cast immobilization and tibial diaphyseal blood flow: an initial study

The effect of cast immobilization on blood flow to the tibial diaphysis was studied by the microsphere method, both before and after casting of one hindlimb of adult New Zealand White rabbits. Preliminary studies were undertaken to investigate the possibility of the reduction of tibial flow by the microspheres used for the control measurements of blood flow. There were no significant differences in the flows to the tibial diaphysis or skeletal muscle between the immobilized and control limbs after either 1 or 2 weeks. This similarity between control and experimental limbs indicates that immobilization had no major effect on tibial blood flow over and above the systemic effects of the procedure.