Injury
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The induced membrane technique (IMT) is a two-stage surgical procedure used to treat fracture nonunion and bone defects. Although there is an increasing number of animal studies investigating the IMT, few have examined the outcomes of bone healing after a second stage grafting procedure. This study aimed at comparing two bone grafting procedures, as part of the IMT, in order to establish a rat model providing consistent healing outcomes. ⋯ The revised bone grafting method significantly improved the healing outcomes and contributed to establishing a consistent rat model of the IMT. This model can benefit preclinical investigations by allowing for reliable and clinically-relevant comparisons.