Analysis of Long Bone and Vertebral Failure Patterns.

Abstract

Abstract : This report documents five years of work on the normal anatomy of the rhesus monkey vertebral column, the vertebral column response to compressive loading, and the response of bone to hypokinesia. The surface of fractures of long bones were also examined. The rhesus monkey vertebral column was similar to the human spine anatomically, with the exception of the cartilaginous end plates which had unique islands of calcification. The primate vertebral column responded to compressive loading by bending or fracture of bone within individual vertebral bodies, burst injuries in spinal units, and stimulation of osteophyte formation in in vivo impacted spines. Bone formation appeared to be inhibited by hypokinesia in the femur, rib, and vertebral body of exposed rhesus monkeys. Torsional and straight fractures of long bones had varied surface texture due to different angles of fracture planes across the bone matrix. Originator supplied keywords include: Spinal column; Impaction; Electron microscopy; light microscopy; intervertebral discs; bone histomorphometry; fracture.