Fig. 1

Localization of the drill hole defects within the sheep skeleton (proximal and distal femur and humerus, metacarpal bones = MC, metatarsal bones = MT). Drill holes, which were performed via a lateral approach are marked in dark blue while drill holes performed by a medial approch are marked in light blue (distal femur, distal metacarpal and metatarsal bones). Surgeries on the right legs were performed first followed by a second surgery on the left legs 6 weeks later. Sample harvesting followed 9 weeks after the first surgery and 3 weeks after the second surgery for the investigation of an early and an advanced healing time point