Objective To investigate the influence of interfragmentary lag screw on the healing of osteopenic femoral fracture in rabbits. Methods Thirty-six female white rabbits were randomly selected for i. m. injections of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPS) to make osteopenic model (n=30), including MPS group (n=6), or i. m. injections of equivalent normal saline (control group, n=6). After intramuscular injection for 4 weeks, BMD, serum level of P1NP and CTX, and micro-CT of MPS and control group were detected. Twenty-four osteopenic rabbits were randomly divided into. S1 group (without lag screw, 4 weeks), L1 group (locking plate combined with interfragmentary lag screw, 4 weeks), S2 group (without lag screw, 8 weeks), and L2 group (locking plate combined with interfragmentary lag screw, 8 weeks), six rabbits were in each group. X-ray, micro-CT, biomechanical test, histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were measured at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. Results After intramuscular injection for 4 weeks, BMD of lumbar spine in MPS group was (216±21) mg/cm2, which was (251±21) mg/cm2 in control group. BMD of proximal femur in MPS group was (237±30) mg/cm2, and that of control group was (281±28) mg/cm2. P1NP and CTX in MPS group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The three-dimensional BMD of lumbar spine in MPS group was (208.61± 18.75) mg/cm3, and that of control group was (243.83±21.17) mg/cm3. The bone microstructure parameters showed that the volume/total volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular number were significantly decreased in MPS group; trabecular separation and structural model index were increased in MPS group (P<0.05). X-ray showed that the fracture healing was faster in L1 and L2 group, and one developed delayed fracture healing in S2 group. Four weeks after operation, Micro-CT displayed that bone volume/total volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular number in L1 group were higher, and trabecular separation was lower; the maximum load and elastic modulus of L1 group were higher; HE, Masson, and safranin and fast green staining demonstrated that mature bone tissue appeared earlier in L1 and L2 group; TRAP staining exhibited that the number of osteoclasts was less in L1 and L2 group (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that there was no significant difference in BMP-2 between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion In the treatment of long bone fractures with osteopenia, locking plate combined with interfragmentary lag screw can achieve compression effectively, which is conducive to the early formation of callus and rapid fracture healing. |