Soft-tissue blood flow after segmental osteotomy of the canine tibia

The response of soft-tissue blood flow to a segmental osteotomy of the canine tibial diaphysis was investigated. Forty-three dogs underwent unilateral tibial osteotomies to create a 2.5-cm avascular diaphyseal segment, which was then rigidly stabilized with a plate. Blood flow measurements of the limbs that underwent surgery and control limbs were made using cerium 141 microspheres. One month after surgery, blood flow to the caudal musculature was increased 1.4-fold and at 2 and 3 months was twofold the value of the control side. The cranial musculature blood flow was 2.4-fold the control value at 1 month and 1.4-fold the control value at 2 and 3 months. Skin blood flow was significantly elevated at 1 month after surgery (p less than 0.0277), but by 2 and 3 months, skin flow had decreased to 1.4-fold and 1.3-fold of control values (p = 0.22). Bone marrow and cortical blood flows were still significantly elevated at 3 months after surgery. Muscle blood flow remains markedly elevated 3 months after surgery. This study demonstrates the importance of soft-tissue blood flow to the process of revascularization, remodeling, and incorporation of avascular cortical bone.