Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 487-493 (March 2014) Differences of bone healing in metaphyseal defect fractures between osteoporotic and physiological bone in rats  Ulrich Thormann, Thaqif El Khawassna, Seemun Ray, Lutz Duerselen, Marian Kampschulte, Katrin Lips, Helena von Dewitz, Sascha Heinemann, Christian Heiss, Gabor Szalay, Alexander C. Langheinrich, Anita Ignatius, Reinhard Schnettler, Volker Alt  Injury  Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 487-493 (March 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.033 Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Fig. 1 Biomechanical testing revealed statistically significant lower relative flexural rigidity of the OVX compared to SHAM group with a distance of 3mm to the condyles. There were no statistically significant differences at tested 10mm distance. (Relative values indicates a normalization of the contralateral intact bone in a non-destructive testing, Mann–Whitney U test, whiskers indicate standard error of mean and p≤0.05). Injury 2014 45, 487-493DOI: (10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.033) Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Fig. 2 μCT scanning of fracture gap was implemented to measure new bone formation and vascular formation. Cross sectional plans were taken parallel to the bone shaft (A). Areas of bone formation and vascular formation were manually contoured (B); new bone formation was measured in the area of hard tissue (blue) and vascularization was measured in the soft tissue area (red). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of the article.) Injury 2014 45, 487-493DOI: (10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.033) Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Fig. 3 A μCT radiological 2D view of 3mm metaphyseal fracture in both SHAM and OVX groups. Overview of the fixation plate and vessel arrangement within the soft tissue adjacent to the rat femur in both groups (A and D). Magnification of mineralized tissue located within the fracture gap (B: SHAM and E: OVX). White arrows mark vessels visualized within the fracture gap (C: SHAM and F: OVX). μCT analysis of total calcified tissue area and vascular volume formation showed no difference between the OVX and the SHAM group neither in the fracture gap nor in the periosteal region. Injury 2014 45, 487-493DOI: (10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.033) Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Fig. 4 Histological assessment of fracture gap was performed using movat pentachrome staining in the SHAM (A) and OVX group (D). SHAM control animals show bridged cortices, larger areas of ossification and more hypertrophic chondrocytes in the fracture callus (B and C). OVX rats show a bony cortex at the callus borders, less compact bony formation in the fracture gap and more unmineralized tissue (red) with a remnant cartilaginous fraction (E). Besides the visible chondrocytes in the fracture gap, fewer and disarranged hypertrophic chondrocytes are seen (F). (Diamond, indicate the position of the initial 3mm gap). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of the article.) Injury 2014 45, 487-493DOI: (10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.033) Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions