Effect of Cable Cerclage on Regional Blood Circulation in Rabbits: A Scintigraphic Study

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate changes in blood circulation of the femoral cortex in rabbits using scintigraphy before and after cable cerclage alone or combined with an intramedullary Kirschner wire. Method Ten New Zealand rabbits were used. For the right femur, a 2-mm-thick cable was placed around the mid-diaphyseal region and squeezed with a 400-N force and locked with a clip. For the left femur, a 1.8-mm Kirschner wire was inserted retrogradely into the medullary canal, and a 2-mm-thick cable was applied using the same technique. The blood perfusion ratio of the region of interest (ROI) before and after surgery was evaluated using scintigraphy. Results For the right femurs, the mean ROI perfusion ratio decreased by 45% from 2.51 to 1.37 after intervention (p=0.001). For the left femurs, the mean ROI perfusion ratio decreased by 56% from 2.12 to 0.92 after intervention (p<0.001). The mean ROI perfusion ratio post-intervention was higher in the right than left femurs (p=0.017). Conclusion Cable cerclage around the femoral cortex significantly decreased blood circulation in the area.