title: Application of ultrasonic inspection in monitoring dynamic healing of mandibular fracture in rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of ultrasonic diagnosis for monitoring fracture healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rabbit models with fraction of mandible body were established by surgically removing partial lower jawbone. At the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th week after the operation, they were examined by X-ray and ultrasound, respectively. All detection results were scored according to a generally accepted standard. Spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the results of the two inspection methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each healing stage, the results of the ultrasonic inspection were basically consistent with those of the X-ray examination, as supported by a Spearman rank correlation coefficient of 0.892 (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-invasive ultrasonic inspection can be used instead of X-ray examination to monitor and diagnose fracture healing.
authors.affiliation: Medical Center of Stomatology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren-Fa
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Zhi-Ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qing-Tong
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhong-Da
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*