Callus (medicine)

Callus formation after fracture of the spoke (radius shaft fracture ). Image detail from an X-ray image of a forearm.

Classification according to ICD-10
L84	Corns and horns (skin) calluses
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

Callus , also callus ( plural calli or calli ; from Latin callus "hardened, thick skin, callus") is firstly a general name for a callus, especially for a horny callus . Second, the callus is a special medical term for newly formed bone tissue after a fracture .

description

The callus - synonyms are "bone callus", "fracture callus", "fracture callus" - is built up by the osteoblasts . Under certain conditions, the new formation of bone substance can be seen after a few weeks with the help of X-rays . A prerequisite for the radiologically visible callus formation is that the fracture ends are not one hundred percent on top of each other or fit or have movement, so that a gap has to be built over. This form of fracture healing is called secondary healing , also called indirect fracture healing .

In such cases, the osteoblasts build a radiologically clearly visible thickening around the fracture site during the healing phase. The thickening is usually broken down by the osteoclasts to the normal bone thickness in a long process (over months to years) .

In a primary bone healing callus formation is absent. There is direct fracture healing through the Haversian canals .

Excessive callus formation can indicate delayed fracture healing due to insufficient immobilization and can develop into hypertrophic pseudarthrosis .

In the case of bone fractures near or in the joint, the callus can lead to a subsequent restriction of movement and thus also to a ( contracture ). Compressions of nerves and vessels near the bone are also rarely possible.

Web links

Wiktionary: Callus - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

^ Karl Ernst Georges : Comprehensive Latin-German concise dictionary. 8th, improved and increased edition, Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hanover 1913–1918. 1918, accessed on September 5, 2017 (The word is masculine and obeys the o-declension , hence the plural in -i; however, the variant callum (neuter) is more common).
↑ Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma Kallus).
↑ Pschyrembel Clinical Dictionary: Lemma Kallus . 261st edition, de Gruyter, Berlin 2007.
↑ Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma fracture healing).
↑ Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma fracture healing).

[1] Karl Ernst Georges : Comprehensive Latin-German concise dictionary. 8th, improved and increased edition, Hahnsche Buchhandlung, Hanover 1913–1918. 1918, accessed on September 5, 2017 (The word is masculine and obeys the o-declension , hence the plural in -i; however, the variant callum (neuter) is more common).

[2] Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma Kallus).

[3] Pschyrembel Clinical Dictionary: Lemma Kallus . 261st edition, de Gruyter, Berlin 2007.

[4] Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma fracture healing).

[5] Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 (Lemma fracture healing).