What process replaces spongy bone with compact bone during fracture healing?

The process that replaces spongy bone with compact bone during fracture healing is remodeling. This phase occurs after the initial inflammatory response and callus formation, where the body continues to reorganize and regenerate bone tissue.

During the remodeling phase, the body gradually strengthens the newly formed bone by replacing the less dense spongy bone that made up the fracture callus with denser compact bone. This transformation is essential because it restores the structural integrity and strength of the bone, ensuring that it can handle mechanical loads more effectively. The remodeling process is crucial for maintaining the overall health and function of the skeletal system, and it involves the coordination of various types of bone cells, including osteoclasts and osteoblasts, which help break down old bone and build new bone, respectively.