Effects of medullary reaming on fracture healing. Tibial osteotomies in rabbits.

Unilateral, midshaft tibial osteotomy was made in 16 rabbits. Reaming of the medullary canal was performed in half the animals, while the other half were operated on without reaming. Intramedullary fixation was accomplished with multiple Kirschner pins in both groups. Bone healing occurred with abundant peripheral callus in both groups. Mechanical testing after 6 weeks revealed higher strength of the osteotomized bones where reaming had not been performed compared with bones with reaming. We conclude that bone healing is delayed by medullary reaming, whereas the pattern of healing is similar in bones with and without reaming.