A Reliable and Reproducible Critical-Sized Segmental Femoral Defect Model in Rats Stabilized with a Custom External FixatorBenjamin Kerzner 1, Hannah L. Martin 2, Michael Weiser 1, Gianluca Fontana 1, Nicholas Russell 1, William L. Murphy 1,2, Erik A. Lund 3, Christopher J. Doro 1
1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3Summit Orthopedics
In vivo mammalian models of critical-sized bone defects are essential for researchers studying healing mechanisms and orthopedic therapies. Here, we introduce a protocol for the creation of reproducible, segmental, femoral defects in rats stabilized using external fixation.
