Microcirculation in fractures of long bones of the lower extremity

Abstract

The study objective was to investigate soft tissue microcirculation in the area of a lower limb long bone fracture. We studied fractures of the lower limb long bones from 0 to 7 days of age in 17 males and 37 females. The mean age of patients was 57.33±2.53 years. Histological examination of soft tissues from the area of the lower limb long bone fracture and at the distance from the fracture was performed. Standard hematoxylin and eosin staining was used. The thickness and diameter of arterioles, venules, and capillaries were evaluated by morphometry of the sections made. The observed pattern reflects the response of the microcirculation of the soft tissues to the mechanical impact. The relative ratio of the artery diameter to the small-caliber vein diameter was 1.01±0.13, and the artery wall thickness to the vein wall thickness was 2.03±0.28, which can be considered a natural reaction of the microcirculation blood vessels to the mechanical impact in 1-1.5 weeks after the formed fracture of the lower limb long bone.