Regional Bone Loss after Tibial Fracture in the Goat

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the local bone loss after tibial fracture and treatment with 8 weeks of cast immobilisation in a goat model. With dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm²) was measured post-mortem in the hind legs of 13 adult goats after a closed tibial fracture and cast immobilisation treatment for 8 weeks. The BMDs of proximal, distal and diaphysial regions of interest of both the tibia and the femur were measured. BMD differences between corresponding regions of the fractured and the non-fractured (contralateral) side were expressed as proportion of the BMD of the contralateral region. The same differences were calculated in a control group of 5 goats without fracture or cast immobilisation. Twelve weeks after production of the fracture, BMD was (mean ± SD) 26.2 ± 5.7 % lower in the proximal and 10.9 ± 4.4 % lower in the distal region of the fractured tibia than in the same region of the contralateral side. In the femora of the fractured side the BMD was 21.9 ± 4.6 % (proximal region), 4.6 ± 2.3 % (diaphysial region) and 30.8 ± 5.4 % (distal region) lower than in the femur of the contralateral side. In the control group the difference between corresponding regions of the left and right side was only 0.3 ± 2.5 %. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) of the BMD, in the proximal and distal tibial regions and in all regions of the femoral bone, between the fractured and the contralateral side. In goats a closed tibial fracture with cast immobilisation caused considerable bone loss in the tibia as well as in the femur of the fractured limb, even when the animals appeared to bear weight on the limb.

Key words

bone mineral density - immobilisation osteoporosis - tibial fracture - goat - cast immobilisation

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