Evaluation of lengthened callus by callotasis with analysis of mathematical morphology.
BACKGROUND
Callotasis has become an established option for reconstruction of congenital anomalies and after resection of bone tumors. However, fracture after removal of the lengthener remains one of the most serious complications. Mathematical morphology is an image processing technique that allows the skeletal patterns of trabecular bone to be selectively extracted as binary images from computed radiographic (CR) images. We evaluated the strength of the lengthened callus by analysis using mathematical morphology and examined the utility of this method in a biomechanical study.


METHODS
Three Japanese white rabbits per time point were euthanized at the 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week points after completion of the lengthening and were evaluated by CR images and analysis with mathematical morphology.


RESULTS
The changes of the number and continuity of trabecular bone were obtained visually and could be evaluated quantitatively. In some cases corticalization appeared to be complete in the CR images, but it was not complete on the morphological images. Such cases were found to be weaker than those in which corticalization appeared to be complete on both CR and morphological images.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis with mathematical morphology is useful for evaluating the lengthened callus after callotasis.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Y
Y
Yamasaki
S
S
Narita
S
S
Toh
I
I
Kashima
D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods*; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development