INFLAMMATORY CELLS IN NORMAL HUMAN FRACTURE-HEALING

We studied inflammatory cells in specimens of callus taken from normal ly healing human fractures. Using immunohistochemistry, T-cells, B-cel ls, macrophages, HLA-DR expression and endothelial proliferation were assessed. Macrophages were present from an early stage but became less numerous later. T-cells were initially specifically recruited into th e fracture site at the stage of granulation tissue, but subsequently e xcluded from areas of bone and cartilage formation. Inflammatory cells may control and coordinate fracture healing as has been proposed for soft tissue wound healing. The most likely mechanism for this is by th e cytokines and growth factors which they are known to release.