Physical and biological aspects of fracture healing with special reference to internal fixation.

Fracture healing is a repair process of a mechanical discontinuity loss of force transmission, and pathological mobility of bone. Through a sequence of changes of tissue development and geometry, the original structural integrity is restored. The recovery of rigidity and strength is related to tissue differentiation. In unified theory of non-operative and operative stabilized fractures, the mechanics of primary bone healing involves a complex interplay of physical and biological factors. The different patterns of bone repair respond to physical influences including strain tolerance.