when a surgeon is operating on a bone, great care is taken to preserve the periosteum. Why is it important to bone healing to take care of this delicate structure?

Answer 1

The periosteum is the major source of blood and nutrients; most importantly, the osteogenic cells required for bone healing reside in the periosteum. Considering all this, it calls for protection of the periosteum to assist in bone healing after surgery.

Periosteum

The periosteum is a thin layer of connective tissue that lies over bone. This connective tissue is rich in blood vessels, and its job is to encourage bone growth and development and transport blood to bone (relatively avascular - lacking in blood vessels). The periosteum is everywhere on bone except for the joints of long bones