Radiation-induced impairment of bone healing in the rat femur: effects of radiation dose, sequence and interval between surgery and irradiation

Background and purpose: Impairment of osseous healing in treatment combining surgery and radiotherapy is a frequent complication. Its dependence on sequence and interval was studied in a defined experimental model. Materials and methods: The effect of pre- and postoperative irradiation by single doses of X-rays on osseous closure of a 1.2 mm drill hole in the rat femur was measured 6 or 7 weeks after surgery in histological sections using...