BONE
AND MUSCLE BLOOD FLOW INCREASES FOLLOWING
INTRAMEDULLARY REAMING OF THE CONTRA-LATERAL LIMB
I.L.H.
Reichert, I.D. McCarthy, S.P.F. Hughes
Department of Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charing Cross Hospital,
Imperial College, London, UK
Blood flow measurements
using radiolabeled microspheres were performed before and after intramedullary
reaming of the tibia in anaesthesised sheep (n=14). Blood flow was determined
in the contra-lateral unoperated hindlimb, which is customarily chosen
as 'control'. Normal periosteal blood flow values are reported here
for the first time.
Blood flow increased (periosteum: from 5.2 to 13.3 ml/min/100g, p<0.05;
cortex: from 0.47 to 0.70 ml/min/100g, p<0.07; marrow: from 1.0 to
1.73 ml/min/100g, p<0.05, muscle: from 3.5 to 4.3 ml/min/100g, p<0.05).
The recognition of a change in blood flow in the 'control' limb is important for experimental design. An explanation for the rise in blood flow in the 'control' limb is conjecture to date. There was no manipulation of the hindlimb, blood loss was minimal and cardio-vascular function was stable. We conclude that IM reaming triggers a vascular stimulus potent enough to cause a significant rise in blood flow in distant musculoskeletal tissues.