Abstract
Bones comprise a significant percentage of human weight and have important physiologic
and structural roles. Bone remodeling occurs when healthy bone is renewed to maintain
bone strength and maintain calcium and phosphate homeostasis. It proceeds through
four phases: (1) cell activation, (2) resorption, (3) reversal, and (4) bone formation.
Bone healing, on the other hand, involves rebuilding bone following a fracture. There
are two main types of bone healing, primary and secondary. Inflammation plays an integral
role in both bone remodeling and healing. Therefore, a tightly regulated inflammatory
response helps achieve these two processes, and levels of inflammation can have detrimental
effects on bone healing. Other factors that significantly affect bone healing are
inadequate blood supply, biomechanical instability, immunosuppression, and smoking.
By understanding the different mechanisms of bone healing and the factors that affect
them, we may have a better understanding of the underlying principles of bony fixation
and thereby improve patient care.
Keywords
bone healing - fracture repair - bone inflammation - osteomyelitis
