The use of ultrasound mean acoustic attenuation to quantify bone formation during distraction osteogenesis performed by the Ilizarov method. Preliminary results in five dogs.
OBJECTIVE
Management of distraction during Ilizarov limb lengthening remains primarily clinical and empirical. Estimates of tissue acoustic attenuation were evaluated for their ability to quantify bone formation within the distraction gap.


METHODS
Five dogs had tibias lengthened by the method of Ilizarov. Mean acoustic attenuation measurements at multiple positions across the distraction gap were compared with corresponding x-ray computed tomography attenuation measurements.


RESULTS
Computed tomography and ultrasound attenuation displayed similar quantitative behavior across the gap. Linear correlation between them ranged from R2 = .878 to R2 = .131. Fibrous interzone width estimates based on computed tomography and ultrasound attenuation measurements were correlated, based on our preliminary data with R2 = .519. These estimates are independent of the width of distraction.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound parallels computed tomography as a measure of bone formation within the distraction gap. Future studies are needed to improve acoustic attenuation data acquisition techniques and to evaluate their potential as a tool for optimizing early distraction rates in patients at risk for rate-related complications.
Daniel
B L
BL
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109.
Waanders
N A
NA
Zhang
Y
Y
Moskalik
A
A
Fowlkes
J B
JB
Rubin
J M
JM
Goulet
J A
JA
Adler
R S
RS
D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000379:methods*; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography