Quantification of the microstructural anisotropy of distraction osteogenesis in the rabbit tibia

A longitudinal orientation of fibers and trabeculae has been observed histologically within distracted callus. This study quantified the intensity and angle of orientation of trabeculae within a distracted callus. Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent unilateral tibial callus distraction with an external fixator across a mid-diaphyseal osteotomy. Included were: a seven-day postoperative latency period, ten days of distraction at 0.5 mm every 12 hours, and 20 days of post-distraction consolidation before euthanasia. Tibiae were removed, stripped of soft tissue, sectioned, and processed for decalcified histology. Micrographs of mid-coronal sections of the callus were evenly divided into 12 regions and underwent Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis of the digitized image to determine the angle and intensity of the orientation of the bony trabeculae within the callus. The microstructure of the regenerate callus demonstrated an angle of orientation that uniformly matched that of cortical bone in all of regions of the callus and an intensity of orientation which approached that of cortical bone.