How long can you see callus?

Callus regression can last from several months to years. Through the formation of the callus, the broken bone gains stability, so that the broken bone can gradually be loaded again. In the course of wound healing, the callus can also be described as “excess bone”, which is then broken down again over time.

However, during wound healing, part of the callus is also converted into solid bone tissue, which is why parts of the callus remain as an integral part of the formerly broken bone for a lifetime. This is usually still clearly visible in the X-ray image in the first few years. In the course of the years, all excess callus is finally completely degraded, so that after some time the original callus can hardly be distinguished from the bone tissue. In the area of the former fracture, under certain circumstances, a slightly thickened bone may be visible in the X-ray image for a lifetime, which is the result of the original callus formation.

What is callus distraction?

Callus distraction, also known as callotasis, is the targeted cutting of a bone in order to increase its length over time. The procedure for callus distraction always follows the same principle. First the bone to be treated is cut through.

The bone is then fixed in place so that the fracture ends of the bone are kept at a certain distance from each other or are pulled. Over a period of several weeks, a callus forms between the two fracture ends, which finally hardens and becomes stable bone material. In this position, the elongated bone grows together.

The most common indication for callus distraction is probably bone malposition. For this reason, orthopedic surgeons are usually treated as specialists in this specialty. A typical example where callus distraction may occur is the functionally relevant leg length difference.

Callus distraction allows the short leg to be adjusted to the length of the other leg by stable callus formation. For this operation, a so-called ISKD nail is usually used. Callus distraction is rarely performed during cosmetic surgery.