An ultrastructural observation of the effect of persistent stress on cancellous bone healing WAN

Objective To explore the effect of persistent stress on the ultrastructure of cancellous bone in the process of fracture healing.Method A transverse osteotomy on both sides of the femoral tuberositas was performed in 20 adult dogs. One side was fixed with a self-designed tuberositas memofy-pressure connector (TMC) which was made of NiTi shape memory alloy, and the other with compressive steel-wire (SW) cerclage.Five animals in each group were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation and observed under transmission electron microscope.Results The fracture healing was accelerated in the TMC group.The osteoblasts, chondroblasts and collagen fibers at the fracture sites showed significantly different morphology between the 2 groups at every observation time.Most cells and collagen fibers in the TMC group grew along the same direction as the stress, but those in the SW group grew in disorder.Both the number and functional activity of the osteoblasts and chondroblasts were higher in the TMC group than in the SW group.Conclusion Persistent stress can enhance healing and bone reconstruction following a cancellous bone fracture. Key words: Fracture fixation, internal;  Fracture healing;  NiTi shape memory alloy