Effect of Nerve Regeneration on Fracture Healing of Rat Tibia. Histological and Radiological Study

Injuries from road traffic crashes form a major public health problem. The resulting bone fractures are usually associated with nerve injuries in the form of nerve degeneration followed by regeneration. This regeneration process is expected to affect the amount and quality of the formed calluses. This study aims to investigate the effect of sciatic nerve crushing as a model for nerve regeneration on bone healing in rat tibial fracture. Forty five rats were used in this study. They were divided into three groups (Fifteen each) after induction of tibial fracture and internal fixation. Sciatic nerve was kept intact in rats of group I, cut in group II and crushed in group III. The tibial fractures were examined histologically and radiologically. The amount of the bridging calluses was more evident in groups II and III after 2 weeks. Remodeling of the calluses was better in group III at 4 weeks. Our results suggests that deinnervation induced a large but irregular fracture callus and that regeneration showed faster and more regular healing. These results may be of significance to clinicians and researchers who are seeking to improve fracturehealing in patients with associated nerve injury as spinal cord trauma. [Wael M. Elsaed,Yasser M. Elbastawisy. Effect of Nerve Regeneration on Fracture Healing of Rat Tibia. Histological and Radiological Study Life Sci J 2013;10(1):1157-1164]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 178