Post-fracture changes of the femur cortex.

Roentgenograms of the femora were obtained in 21 patients who on average 10 years earlier had sustained a fracture of the shaft of one tibia. On the fracture side a slightly uneven "spotted" appearance could be detected in most patients. Also, the marrow canal was about 10 per cent wider in the femora of the fractured limb--this widening was unrelated to the time factor, indicating a permanent loss of endosteal bone.