Figure 1.

A sequential schematic of four classical stages of fracture healing. (a) After inflammation a hematoma is generated. (b) In the first stage of the reparative phase, the initial fibrin is gradually replaced by cartilaginous tissue and woven bone starts to form. (c) In a later stage of the reparative phase, the cartilaginous tissue mineralizes, more bone is formed and the volume of granulation tissue substantially decreases. (d) Eventually, once the bone is bridged, remodeling restores the original cortex.