Changes in blood-flow in the bones after osteotomy and osteosynthesis.

The blood-flow can be measured with the method of "tracer microspheres". In 15 adult shepherd-dog bastards the blood-flow in the bones of the posterior extremity was determined. The blood-flow in callous bone is 6 times higher than in cortical bone. The values for blood-flow are decreasing from the proximal to the distal end, in cortical as well as in callous bone. In 10 of the 15 dogs the blood-flow was determined after manipulation of the bone. If the medullary cavity of the tibia was evacuated the blood-flow of the corticalis in the bone shaft diminished; it was reduced 3 times more than after removal of the periost. If an osteotomy was performed in the middle of the shaft, the blood-flow was more reduced distally than proximally. In the corticalis of the shaft the blood-flow of the proximal fragment drops only when an osteosynthesis is performed. In extended oblique fractures the upper ends of the fragments--proximally as well as distally--are endangered by a reduction of the blood-flow.