title: [Evaluation of fracture healing with the computerized analysis of radiographic images].
abstract: The radiographic evaluation of fracture healing in the long bones utilizes subjective and hardly analytic standards. Therefore, to solve this problem, the authors suggest using a computerized image processing system which increases radiographic informative content and allows an objective evaluation of fracture healing. We analyzed the radiographs of 15 patients suffering from femoral fracture and treated by means of Küntscher nailing. We processed the radiographs taken both before and 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after surgical treatment. It was thus possible to select the regions of interest, to graph brightness levels and to measure both distances and areas. Computerized image processing provides an objective and quantitative analysis of radiographs and allows an increase in informative content. It also allows the comparison of pre- and postoperative radiographs with those taken at different times. Our results may confirm the utility of computerized image analysis of radiographs to evaluate bone remodelling during fracture healing.
authors.affiliation: Università Cattolica S. Cuore, Istituto di Clinica Ortopedica, Roma.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizzi
mesh_terms: D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014945:Wound Healing
vernacular_title: Valutazione dell'evoluzione del callo di frattura mediante analisi computerizzata di immagini radiografiche.