[Biomechanical and histological studies following intramedullary nailing of the tibia]

With our experimental work we tried to answer some special mechanical and biological questions which occur in medullary nailing of the tibia. The deformation of the nail during insertion was measured by strain gauges. In addition resistance of isolated tibial segments against torsional moments was analyzed. Thus we were able to demonstrate the occurrence and the effectiveness of an elastic interlocking of the nail in the transverse and longitudinal tibial axis. By means of dying with disulphine-blue and labelling with fluorochromes the irritation of the cortical blood flow and the revascularisation procedure on the base of a centripetally directed intensive cortical remodelling could be figured out very well. The results are not only limited to the conditions of intramedullary nailing but allow further conclusions to the general physiology of cortical blood flow and bone healing.