Bioelectric potentials after fracture of the tibia in rats.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the changes in the bioelectric voltage with time after fracture until healing occurred. The right tibia of adult rats was fractured and every day during the first week, and then 10, 14, 21, 30 and 90 days after the fracture, the bioelectric potentials were registered with callomelan electrodes placed on the anteromedial surface of the tibia. The data collected were statistically analysed. The biopotentials recorded decreased during the healing phase but were significantly higher in the vicinity of the fracture. During the first 10 days some oscillations were recorded which could be related to cellular and vascular processes in the early phase of callus formation.