Fig. 2

Neutrophil invasion in the musculus vastus lateralis after trauma. a Neutrophil invasion in muscle tissue after monotrauma for different fixation strategies (Mono_N; Mono_Ex_fix) and injury (T = trauma; AT = nontraumatized) at 2, 24, 48, and 72 h post-trauma. b Neutrophil invasion into muscle tissue close to the fracture in polytrauma with intramedullary nailing (Poly_N) and external fixation (Poly_Ex_fix) during the 72 h post-trauma observation period. c PMNL invasion after mono- and polytrauma after external fixator treatment of the femur fracture. d PMNL invasion of mono- and polytrauma after internal fixation. All values above the dotted line (> 5 N/HPF) indicate severe inflammation (*(a) Mono_Ex_fix 24 h T vs. AT p = 0.004; Mono_N 24 h T vs. AT p = 0.017, Mono_N T vs. Mono_Ex_fix T (p = 0.004). **24 h post-trauma: Mono_Ex_fix vs. Mono_N (p = 0.026), Poly_Ex_fix (p = 0.002), Poly_N (p = 0.015))