Mechanism and healing of a bone fracture

Mechanism and healing of a bone fracture

Bone is a cellular, living tissue capable of growth, self-repair and remodeling in response to physical stresses. In the adult skeleton, bone deposit and bone resorption occur. These two processes together constitute in remodeling of bone. There are four major stages in repairing a simple fracture (Figure 9.15).

1.  Formation of haematoma

When a bone breaks the blood vessels in the bone and surrounding tissues are torn and results in haemorrhage. Due to this a haematoma, a mass of clotted blood forms at the fracture site. The tissues at the site becomes swollen, painful and inflammed. The death of bone cells, occur due to lack of nutrition.

2. Formation of fibrocartilaginous callus

Within a few days several events lead to the formation of soft granulation tissue called callus. Capillaries grow into the haematoma and phagocytic cells invade the area and begin to clean up the debris. Meanwhile the fibroblasts and osteoblasts invade from the nearby periosteum and endosteum and begin reconstructing of the bone. The fibroblasts produce fibres. The chondroblasts secrete the cartilage matrix. Within this repair tissue, osteoblasts begin forming spongy bone. The cartilage matrix later calcifies and forms the fibrocartilaginous callus.

3. Formation of Bony callus

New bone trabeculae begin to appear in the fibro cartilaginous callus. Gradually that is converted into a bony (hard) callus of spongy bone. Bony callus formation continues until a firm union is formed about two months later to an year for complete woven bone formation.

4. Remodeling of Bone

Bony callus formation will be continued for several months. After that the bony callus is remodelled. The excess material on the diaphysis exterior and within the medullary cavity is removed and the compact bone is laid down to reconstruct the shaft walls. The final structure of the remodelled area resembles like the unbroken bony region.