Periosteum and the Healing of Partial Ulnar Osteotomy in Radius Curvus of Dogs

A 2 cm partial ulnectomy was performed in twelve 4-month-old mongrel dogs with experimentally induced radius curvus. In four dogs, the periosteum was left intact; in four dogs, all of the periosteum was excised from the ulnectomy site; and in the remaining four dogs, the periosteum was sewn over the ends of the ostectomized bone. The unoperated limbs of all 12 dogs served as controls. Progress was determined monthly from radiographs until the dogs were 9 months of age. The ulnectomies performed when the periosteum was left in situ at the ulnectomy site healed quickly, resulting in progressive deformity of the foreleg. When the periosteum was excised or sewn over the ends of the bone, the ulnectomy sites did not heal and correction of the radius curvus resulted. Histopathologic examination confirmed the absence of bony healing.