Experimental study on influence of controlled low frequency micromovement on fracture healing / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the influence of low frequency micromovement induced by an external fixator with controlled micromovement device on callus formation and fracture healing. Methods 39 sheep were involved in the study. After transverse osteotomy with a gap of 2 mm was done at the mid-shaft of both tibias, the hind limbs were fixed with unilateral external fixators with controlled micromovement device. 10 days after osteotomy, one hind limb of the sheep was randomly selected to have micromovement. According to different micromovement frequencies, the sheep were randomly divided into 3 groups Group A, 0.5 Hertz; Group B, 1 Hertz; Group C, 5 Hertz. The micromovement had an amplitude of 0.25mm and stopped by the end of the fourth postoperative week (30 min/d). The other hind limb of each sheep did not have micromovement and served as the control. Macrostructural and histological observations, radiographic examinations, and biomechanical tests were done respectively at 4, 6, 9 weeks after osteotomy. Results Macrostructural observations and X-ray examinations revealed a large amount of callus formation with a peak at the end of the fourth postoperative week in the 3 experimental groups. Histological analysis showed faster endochondral ossification and osteoid formation in the experimental groups than in the control by the sixth postoperative week, with the highest rate in Group B (1Hz). Biomechanical tests proved that the bending stiffness in the experimental groups was superior to that in the control, with the strongest in Group B (1 Hz). Conclusions Low frequency-micromovement at the fracture sites can promote callus formation and accelerate mineralization at the early stage of fracture healing. A frequency of 1 Hz can produce the best results.