Effect of Stabilization on the Healing Process of Femur Fractures in Aged Mice

Background: The influence of mechanical stability on fracture healing has previously been studied in adult mice, but is poorly understood in aged animals. Therefore, we herein studied the effect of stabilization on the healing process of femur fractures in aged mice. Methods: Twenty-four 18-month-ol...

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Published in:Journal of investigative surgery 2016-07, Vol.29 (4), p.202-208
Main Authors: Histing, T., Heerschop, K., Klein, M., Scheuer, C., Stenger, D., Herath, S.C., Pohlemann, T., Menger, M.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
aging
Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
bone remodeling
Bony Callus - metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Femoral Fractures - surgery
fracture
Fracture Fixation
Fracture Healing - physiology
Humans
mechanical stability
Mice
nonstabilization
Osteogenesis - physiology
Radiography
RANK Ligand
stabilization
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Summary:Background: The influence of mechanical stability on fracture healing has previously been studied in adult mice, but is poorly understood in aged animals. Therefore, we herein studied the effect of stabilization on the healing process of femur fractures in aged mice. Methods: Twenty-four 18-month-old CD-1 mice were stabilized after midshaft fracture of the femur with an intramedullary screw. In another 24 18-month-old mice, the femur fractures were left unstabilized. Bone healing was studied by radiological, biomechanical, histomorphometric, and protein expression analyses. Results: After 2 and 5 weeks of healing, the callus of nonstabilized fractures compared to stabilized fractures was significantly larger, containing a significantly smaller amount of osseous tissue and a higher amount of cartilaginous tissue. This was associated with a significantly lower biomechanical stiffness during the early phase of healing. However, during the late phase of fracture healing both nonstabilized and stabilized fractures showed a biomechanical stiffness of ∼40%. Of interest, Western blot analyses of callus tissue demonstrated that the expression of proteins related to angiogenesis, bone formation and remodeling, i.e. VEGF, CYR61, BMP-2, BMP-4, Col-2, Col-10, RANKL, OPG, did not differ between nonstabilized and stabilized fractures. Conclusion: Nonstabilized fractures in aged mice show delayed healing and remodeling. This is not caused by an altered protein expression in the callus but rather by the excessive interfragmentary movements.
ISSN:0894-1939
1521-0553
DOI:10.3109/08941939.2015.1127448