Summary
The study purposed to elaborate a model of non-union to test a new biomaterial enhancing
bone healing in large segmental defects. The authors’ concern was to develop a model
of osteosynthesis capable of maintaining the stability of a femur that sustained a
segmental defect. Also, they intended to determine the length of a defect that would
create a nonunion. The madel was a 20-mm segmental bone defect coupled with an appropriate
osteosynthesis in the rabbit femur. Two groups of rabbits underwent a mid-shaft ostectomy.
Osteosynthesis was mode by two superposed holes 2-mm cuttable plates with cerclage
wires. In one group, an additional intramedullary pin was inserted. The experiment
lasted 16 weeks. The rabbits of the control group suffered fracture of the plates
before the end of the experiment. The rabbits of the test group showed stability of
the implants and nonunion of the defect. It was concluded that a mid-shaft segmental
defect of 20 mm, coupled with an osteosynthesis combining plates, wires and intramedullary
pin, is a valid critical size defect model in the rabbit femur.
Keywords
Rabbit - bone - segmental - critical size defect