Fracture Fixation

Mechanical environment of fracture healing:

It is useful to remember the biomechanical environment of fracture healing. We now know that  the mechanical environment at that the fracture site has a major influence on fracture healing.The role of mechanical environment in modulating fracture healing is clearly seen in rigid internal fixation where healing takes place by primary bone healing, and secondary healing in non-rigid immobilisation.

The bone healing process is a remarkably complex healing process beginning with the stage of inflammation and progressing gradually through the stages of soft and hard callus formation eventually to bone healing. This capacity for healing is remarkable in that mature adult bone can reconstitute itself by forming original tissue.