Figure 2
The vascular role in fracture. Blood flow rate was quantified using PET imaging after tibial fracture (58). A) In an uninjured limb, blood flow is highest in the muscle (M) near the tibia (T). B) In contrast, blood flow rate in and around the tibia (T) is markedly increased following fracture. This increase in blood flow rate is due in part to angiogenesis. Recent work has shown that these new blood vessels coinvade the cartilaginous template along with osteoblast precursors during endochondral fracture repair (71). C) In the periosteal fracture callus, Osx-expressing osteoprogenitors (green) are intimately associated with new vasculature (red) seven days after fracture. Pockets of avascular cartilage are labeled with a *. Figures used with permission (License Number: 3266071128303).
