Comparative study of healing and remodeling in various bones.

The effects of normal physiologic stimuli on healing and remodeling in various bones of different embryogenic origin in the rabbit and dog were compared. The findings disclosed that the healing and remodeling of the tibia and mandible were consistent with the magnitude of the forces that act on these bones; namely, the tension created by muscle contraction and the compression exerted by body weight in the tibia, and masticatory compression in the mandible. The slower healing and remodeling in the maxilla was attributed to the selection of the excision of bone in the edentulous site with minimal masticatory compression and muscle-pull tension. The excision of the bone in the skull appeared to heal by fibrous tissue with no evidence of remodeling, which is consistent with the minimal external forces that act on this bone.