Bone remodeling happens continuously in our bodies. It involves removal of mature bone tissue (bone resorption) and creation of new bone tissue (ossification). These processes also control the healing of fractures. When bone resorption and bone formation are not in balance diseases such as osteoporosis can occur.
Image 1: Compares normal bone with bone that has undergone osteoporosis. The cortical bone is thin and irregular while the medullary bone is sparse.
Image 2: Compares normal bone with bone that has undergone osteoporosis. The cortical bone is thin and irregular while the medullary bone is sparse.
New bone is created by osteoblast cells, while osteoclast cells break down bone. Remodeling of bones requires calcium and a balance between the function of these two types of cells. Chemical signals in the body cause osteoclasts to move to an area and breakdown bone, followed by osteoblasts creating new bone in the area.
Image 3: Compares the steps of proper bone healing with tight contact with steps of proper healing without contact. Without bone contact, the osteoblasts fail to bridge the gap of the bone, causing an incomplete fusion.
Clinical treatment of bone fractures requires realignment of the dislocated bone fragments and then fixation with a cast or hardware to keep them from moving so the healing process can occur. Healing begins in the vascularized periosteum (the connective tissue membrane covering the bone) and in bone marrow. The periosteum and bone marrow are areas where precursor cells become chondroblasts and osteoblasts, essential to the healing of bone.
Image 4: Compares the mechanism of normal bone healing with improper fixation causing a bony non-union. The lack of fixation allows for movement of the fracture fragment, interrupting the healing process.
The three major phases of fracture healing are the Inflammatory Phase, the Reparative Phase, and the Remodeling Phase.
Inflammatory Phase
After a fracture, blood accumulates within the tissues adjacent to the injury (hematoma). Cells within this blood clot die, but fibroblast cells survive and replicate. They form granulation tissue (a grouping of these new cells, with blood vessels in between).
Reparative Phase
Days after the fracture, the cells of the periosteum replicate and form chondroblasts that create cartilage, and osteoblasts that create woven bone. These tissues come together and form a callus. This initial “woven” bone is not as strong as mature bone.
Remodeling Phase
The remodeling process replaces the woven (trabecular) bone with stronger mature
(cortical) bone. The callus is remodeled into a new shape closer to the bone’s original shape and strength due to mechanical loading forces. The remodeling phase takes 3 to 5 years. Fibroblasts lay down a collagen matrix. Calcium is added to the collagen matrix and stiffens it into mature bone.
Improper fracture healing includes delayed union, non-union, and fibrous union. If the periosteum and the blood supply are disrupted, fracture healing can be delayed and may not fully heal (non-union). Inappropriate fixation of the bone fragments can also result in improper healing. Non-union can result in gaps between healing fragments, and the formation of unstable fibrous tissue between fragments. Gaps between the bone fragments can sometimes appear to be a “false joint” and are called pseudoarthosis. Non-union may require additional surgical intervention to remove the fibrous tissues, restore the blood supply, and perhaps add bone graft between fragments to ensure proper healing.
Image 5: Compares a normal bone graft fusion to pseudoarthosis (gaps between the bone fragments appearing as “false joints”).
Image 6: Exhibit shows the site and details of a non-union of the left tibia fracture.
Image 7: Exhibit shows an incomplete fusion of the lower aspect of the intervertebral graft, forming a pseudoarthosis at C5-C6.
Image 8: Exhibit shows the debridement of freed fibrocartilage at the non-union sites.
Case Example
This exhibit illustrates a left ankle internal fixation surgery. Multiple plates and screws drilled into place to reduce the fracture sites.
