Science Memes

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[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Based on what I read after, given the injury to the Tibia, Mabe the Fibula's middle was sacrificed for a bone graft, rather than cutting open his good leg as well.

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[–] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Doesn't really look like it's been taken out for a graft, at least not anytime recently. My bet would be he acquired a atrophic nonunion fracture the same time he broke his tibia. The rounded edges of the bone look more like they've been subject to resorption instead of being excised.

Honestly not that rare for fibular fractures, though the segment missing is fairly large. So it's probably a fairly old injury.

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[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago* (1 child)

I suspect an older harvest. The callus combined with some perimeter resorption tends to lead to a conical profile. Sometimes the callus will even hypertrophy and make a couple of little drumsticks.