title: A New Measurement Technique of the Characteristics of Nutrient Artery Canals in Tibias Using Materialise's Interactive Medical Image Control System Software.
abstract: We established a novel measurement technique to evaluate the anatomic information of nutrient artery canals using Mimics (Materialise's Interactive Medical Image Control System) software, which will provide full knowledge of nutrient artery canals to assist in the diagnosis of longitudinal fractures of tibia and choosing an optimal therapy. Here we collected Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format of 199 patients hospitalized in our hospital. All three-dimensional models of tibia in Mimics were reconstructed. In 3-matic software, we marked five points in tibia which located at intercondylar eminence, tibia tuberosity, outer ostium, inner ostium, and bottom of medial malleolus. We then recorded Z-coordinates values of the five points and performed statistical analysis. Our results indicate that foramen was found to be absent in 9 (2.3%) tibias, and 379 (95.2%) tibias had single nutrient foramen. The double foramina was observed in 10 (2.5%) tibias. The mean of tibia length was 358 ± 22 mm. The mean foraminal index was 31.8%  ± 3%. The mean distance between tibial tuberosity and foramen (TFD) is 66 ± 12 mm. Foraminal index has significant positive correlation with TFD (r = 0.721, P < 0.01). Length of nutrient artery canals has significant negative correlation with TFD (r = -0.340, P < 0.01) and has significant negative correlation with foraminal index (r = -0.541, P < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Jiantao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, People's Liberation Army 264 Hospital, No. 30 Qiaodong Road, Taiyuan 030001, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China; Medical College, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The 307th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, No. 8 Dongda Road, Beijing 100071, China.
authors.forename: Xiuyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, No. 168 Litang Road, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Hospital, No. 406 Jiefang Road, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Zhirui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Lihai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Peifu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006253:Haversian System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D012984:Software; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed