1989 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 66-81
The healing process of bone fractures experimentally produced in rat mandibulae was examined with bone scitigraphy, X-ray radiography and microradiography. These radiological observations were carried out immediately, 1 day, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days, 35 days, and 42 days after fracturing. Histological examinations were made to evaluate relationships between the findings.
The bone scintigrams showed a slight uptake of 99mTc from the 4th day, although no noteworthy findings were revealed on the X-ray radiograms. The accumulation of 99m Tc was gradually increased, and the most remarkable uptake was seen on the 14th day. The bone scintigrams obtained on the 42nd day showed the same images as those from the normal rats.
X-ray radiograms demonstrated no changes in radiolucency until the 4th day. The radiopacity was gradually increased from the 7th day until the 42nd day.
Microradiograms obtained on the 4th day showed some early changes in the periosteal regions. New callus formation was clearly observed from the 7th day. The calcification of new callus was gradually increased until the 14th day.
These findings were supported by histological examinations.
