Histologic effects of amniotic fluid in the early phases of bone healing: an experimental study on rabbits

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the histological effects of am niotic fluid on bone healing in the rabbit fetus. Fetal femurs (n=34) were fractured in the diaphysis and two experimental groups were established. In group A fetuses (n=18), the fracture ends were bathed in amniotic fluid th rough their unsutured skin wounds. In group B fetuses (n=16), the fracture sites were isolated from amniotic fluid by suturing the wound edges. Nonope rated fetuses were used as control group (n=9). The fetuses were sacrificed on the first, third and seventh postoperative days for histological studie s. Histological examination of the specimens was performed to detect inflam mation, fibroblastic proliferation, bone cellularity, callus and cartilage formation. The results were compared, using the Fisher exact chi square tes t criteria, where no statistically significant differences were detected be tween group A and group B (P>0.05).