Stress protection by external fixation of the rabbit tibia

Osteopenia of the tibia and femur caused by an external fixator in the tibia was studied in 14 rabbits. Eight rabbits were treated with a complete unilateral external fixator in one tibia, whereas the other tibia served as control. The other 6 animals had one leg operated on with inserting of all the pins but without the frame. This technique was chosen to compare osteopenia caused by stress protection and the effect of the pins. After 6 weeks, we found a 7 percent reduction in the bone mineral content in the tibial diaphyseal segment between the pins of the external fixator and no bone loss in the tibia that were operated on with only pins. In the femurs, there was a smaller decrease in the bone mineral content: respectively 3.2 percent (complete frame) and 2.9 percent (only pins). On all the operated on tibiae, there was an increase in the bone mineral content around the pins both proximally and distally.