LEXER,1 in 1906, introduced the transarticular bone-graft arthrodesis in cases of postparalytic foot drop. This method was used extensively for many other joints and other diseases. But soon one saw the disappearance of the bone graft in the joint space. In most cases no bony arthrodesis occurred. This phenomenon gave rise to two explanations. Lexer and his pupils * were of the opinion that mainly mechanical forces were responsible for a creeping fracture of the bone graft. Bier and his school † thought that the chemical nature of the synovial fluid caused a dissolution of the bone graft in the joint space.
Up to now these two theories are discussed but are still open to question. All arguments for and against these two theories have been based merely on clinical experiences and roentgenological observations. One wonders why no clear-cut animal experiments have been done to clarify these two conflicting theories.