The Influence of X-rays on the Healing of Fractures

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Abstract
The tibias of adolescent female mice were irradiated either 21 days before or 10 days after fracture. The exposure dose was 2000 R; the absorbed dose was from 2180 to 2620 rad. The mineral content, 89Sr uptake and alkaline phosphatase activity of the irradiated or nonirradiated fractured tibias were compared with the contralateral normal bones for periods up to 5 months with a few observations at 1 yr. These metabolic parameters were greatly increased by fracture. Irradiation of the established callus depressed its metabolism but not enough to prevent functional healing. Irradiation of the intact bone prior to fracture resulted in delay in activation of the repair process and in delayed and incomplete healing. The effect of irradiation before fracture was about twice as great as that after fracture.

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