Midfacial fracture repair in the adult rat

The consensus in the literature is that fracture healing within the midface occurs via fibrous union. Clinical experience with the surgical correction of established traumatic deformities has not borne this out. An earlier histological examination with human biopsy specimens demonstrated that eventually repair occurred by direct bony union. However, a recent study in a rabbit model challenged this conclusion and indicated that the process of new formation resembles secondary bone formation as in endochondral formed bone. The purpose of our inquiry is to elucidate further the process of midfacial bony repair in an adult male Sprague-Dawley rat model.