Distraction osteogenesis enhances remodeling of remote bones of the skeleton: a pilot study

Bone injuries have a systemic influence on the remodeling of bone. This effect has not been examined concerning its extent and duration. We measured the systemic effect of distraction osteogenesis on the remodeling of bones of the axial skeleton by means of the mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate in an animal experiment. Distraction osteogenesis was performed on the tibiae of 24 mature Yucatan minipigs. After a 4-day latency period, the tibiae were distracted 2 mm/day for 10 days. The ensuing consolidation phase lasted 10 days. Three fluorescent labeling substances were applied intravenously: calcein green at the second postoperative day, tetracycline 1 day after the end of the distraction phase, and xylene orange 2 days before sacrifice. We prepared ground sections from the ninth right ribs. The mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate were measured histomorphometrically on labeled osteons. The median mineral apposition rate during distraction was 2.39 microm/day (2.12-2.62 microm/day), which was higher than the rate during consolidation (median, 1.62 microm/day; 1.54-1.84 microm/day). The median bone formation rate confirmed this result and was 840.51 microm(2)/day (744.20-1148.26 microm(2)/day) during distraction and 384.25 microm(2)/day (330.84-467.71 microm(2)/day) during consolidation. Thus, a short period of distraction osteogenesis appears to have an anabolic effect on the mineral apposition rate of remote cortical bone.