Function promotes fracture healing. Plate-fixed osteotomies studies in rabbits.

Unilateral midshaft tibial osteotomies in rabbits were fixed with 6-hole steel plates. In half the animals, no additional fixation was used, whereas in the other half, a plaster bandage from the toes to the midthigh was applied. At 6 weeks all the osteotomies had healed radiographically with little or no periosteal callus. The median strength of bones without plaster was 107 per cent of the normal value compared with 55 per cent in the plaster group. The results indicated a severely adverse effect of plaster immobilization on the healing of plate-fixed osteotomies.