Long-term effects of saw osteotomy versus random fracturing on bone healing and remodeling in a sheep tibia model

This article is about the evaluation of possible differences in biomechanical or histomorphological properties of bone healing between saw osteotomy and random fracturing after 6 months. A standardized, 30 degrees oblique monocortical saw osteotomy of sheep tibia was carried out, followed by manual fracture completion of the opposed cortical bone. Fixation was performed by bridge plating (4.5 mm, LCDCP, broad). X-rays were taken immediately after surgery and at the end of the study. Polychrome fluorescent staining was performed according to a standardized protocol in the 2nd, 4th 6th, 10th, 14th, 18th, 22th and 26th week. Ten sheep were comprehensively evaluated. Data for stiffness and histomorphology are reported. The average bending stiffness of the operated bone was higher (1.7 (SD 0.3) with plate (MP) vs. 1.5 without plate) than for the intact bone (1.4 (SD 0.2), though no significant differences in bending stiffness were observed (P>0.05). Fluorescence staining revealed small numbers of blood vessels and less fragment resorption and remodeling in the osteotomy gap. Bone healing after saw osteotomy shows a very close resemblance to 'normal' fracture healing. However, vascular density, fragment resorption, fragment remodeling, and callus remodeling are reduced at the osteotomy.