THE ROLE OF THE PERIOSTEUM IN THE HEALING OF THE DOGS MULLER-PLATE TREATED FEMUR FRACTURE

There are contradictory opinions of the role of the periosteum in the conditions of stable osteosynthesis. One group of authors (K u n t s c h e r , 1970; Z u c m a n et al., 1968) and others believe that the p eriosteum, especially its cambian layer, has one of the most important roles in the healing of fractures. However, other group of authors (M c E v e n , 1912; A n t o n y et al., 1980) and others deny the cruci al role of the periosteum in the healing of fractures. The authors of the present study performed osteosynthesis by the Muller plate in both femoral bones of 20 dogs. In the left femoral bone, the periosteum wa s removed 4 cm in the proximal and distal direction from the fracture site, while in the right femoral bone the periosteum remained intact. The healing of the fracture was controlled by X-ray every 15 days up t o 2.5 months when the animals were subjected to euthanasia. After 2.5 months from the introduction of the fracture, the healing of the fract ure line was recorded in both femoral bones. It is concluded that in t he conditions of stable osteosynthesis the periosteum does not play a crucial role in the healing of bones.