Changes in bone mineral content following tibia shaft fractures.

The bone mineral content of the upper ends of the tibia and the fibula was measured in 27 patients with tibia shaft fracture. The bone mineral decreased rapidly after fracture, the loss continuing for about 5 months. Later, towards the end of the first year after the injury, there was a slow restoration of mineral but no return to initial values in most instances. Although the average maximum loss was approximately 45%, only 25% of the initial bone mineral was missing after one year.