Histomorphologic changes in the tibial epiphysis after diaphyseal fracture.

The amount of osteoid tissue, osteoclasts, and active osteoblasts was measured in biopsy specimens from the proximal end of the tibia in 20 patients who had sustained tibial shaft fractures. As compared with samples from 42 control subjects without fractures, there was a vast increase in the amount of osteoid tissue. The histologic appearance deviated from that of other skeletal conditions in that poorly calcified (osteoid) layers were found throughout the trabeculae, which, in some instances, were completely osteoid. The frequency of active osteoblasts (corrected for osteoid) was not increased in the patients with fractures, whereas osteoclasts were noted four times more frequently.