Histologic effects of amniotic fluid in the early phases of bone healing: an experimental study on rabbits

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the histological effects of amniotic fluid on bone healing in the rabbit fetus. Fetal femurs (n=34) were fractured in the diaphysis and two experimental groups were established. In group A fetuses (n=18), the fracture ends were bathed in amniotic fluid through their unsutured skin wounds. In group B fetuses (n=16), the fracture sites were isolated from amniotic fluid by suturing the wound edges. Nonoperated fetuses were used as control group (n=9). The fetuses were sacrificed on the first, third and seventh postoperative days for histological studies. Histological examination of the specimens was performed to detect inflammation, fibroblastic proliferation, bone cellularity, callus and cartilage formation. The results were compared, using the Fisher exact chi square test criteria, where no statistically significant differences were detected between group A and group B ( P>0.05). Received: 24 March 1999 / Accepted: 15 September 1999