the effect of bone marrow graft on bone healing: a radiological and biomechanical study

background: there are multiple methods for acceleration of bone healing. bone marrow has been shown to contain osteoprogenitor cells.   objective: to determine the effect of percutaneous bone marrow injection on bone healing.   methods: 15 mature, 2-kg-weighing white new zealand rabbits from both sexes were randomized into 3 groups: group i: only osteotomy of right radius was performed and a 5 mm bony defect was made. group ii:  same as group i, with the defect filled by bone-graft, taken from the iliac crest. group iii:  same as group i plus percutaneous bone marrow injection 5 days after the operation. 45 days post-operation, the rabbits were sacrificed.  the radii of both forelimbs were isolated and tested by tensile testing machine .   results: there was a significant difference between groups i and iii (p<0.001) for toleration of maximum load and bending stiffness. no significant difference was observed between groups ii and iii for these parameters.   conclusion: bone marrow injection has an effect on bone healing comparable to bone grafting.  this technique is non-invasive and simple without any significant complication .