title: Value of measuring bone density serial changes on a picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) monitor in distraction osteogenesis.
abstract: Serial changes of bone density in 26 femora and 22 tibiae that underwent leg lengthening by distraction osteogenesis were investigated by measuring the pixel value shown on a picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) monitor. The pixel value of the original cortex did not change significantly until the external fixator was removed. The pixel value of the distraction sites did not change significantly for the first 5-6 weeks/cm, but rapidly increased after 7 weeks/cm in the femur and tibia, then slowly increased after 8 weeks/cm. The serial changes of the pixel value of the distracted bone showed a sigmoid curve, rather than a straight increasing line. The relative pixel values of the lengthening sites were >95% in three of the four cortices at external fixator removal. Thus, the pixel value of PACS is a rapid and easy method for the detection of bone density changes in distraction osteogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Kwang Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Joong Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001852:Bone Lengthening; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome