Generalized Skeletal Response on Local Trauma in Young Rats studied by means of ⁴⁵Ca-Metabolism

Abstract

IN connexion with following-up deviations in metabolism of calcium in bones in young animals after local injury by Roentgen irradiation, we wished to be convinced about the effect of other kinds of physical traumatism on the metabolism of calcium in bones. For this purpose we chose electric current for several reasons: in the first place, almost nothing is known about deviation in metabolism of bones injured by electric current, and secondly, because the entire question of the effect of such trauma on bones has been relatively little studied. Electro-trauma is quite easily carried out. It is also known that the majority of wounds in electro-trauma quickly heal without suppuration so that when experimenting it is possible to exclude undesired suppuration as a complication which could misrepresent the observed results. In case of other surface injuries, for example, radiation damage, torpid ulcers arise which are the seats of infection, causing local irritation which may meet with a response in the entire organism.