[Differential circulatory value of various femoral shaft areas--experimental studies in rabbits]

15 rabbits underwent osteotomia of the left femur including lesion of the medullary vessels, 5 times in the proximal, 5 times in the middle, 5 times in the distal diaphysis. Changes in blood flow before and after osteotomia were measured by the "tracer microspheres" -method in the proximal, middle, and distal diaphysis of the femur and the tibia, in the marrow of femur and tibia, in the m. rectus femoris, and the m. tibialis anterior. After lesion of the femur diaphysis a significant reduction of blood flow was found in all tissues of the left leg which must have been caused by arterial spasm. In the diaphysis and marrow of femur, however, the reduction of blood flow was even greater and showed a characteristic pattern concerning the lesion of the medullary vessels. Osteotomia in the proximal diaphysis led to a greater reduction of blood flow in diaphysis and marrow than osteotomia in the middle and distal diaphysis did. The alteration of the diaphysis blood flow is different in the proximal, middle, and distal part in all cases of osteotomia. The characteristic pattern of diaphysis blood flow alteration by osteotomia can be explained by topography of the femur vessels. Their relations to clinical observations are discussed.