title: Effect of Polyester and Plaster of Paris Casts on Determination of Volumetric Bone Mineral Density Assessed by Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT).
abstract: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is a non-invasive, low-radiation tool for measuring volumetric bone mineral density. It has potential for use in fracture healing applications; however, the unknown attenuation effects of cast material on peripheral quantitative computed tomography have contributed to its limited use in this area. The effect of two common cast materials, polyester and Plaster of Paris was investigated by performing both in vitro and in vivo studies. The in vitro study tested the effect of increasing layers of cast material on bone density measurements performed on a hydroxyapatite phantom. Cast thickness was directly associated with a reduction in bone mineral density, with twelve layers of polyester and Plaster of Paris resulting in a 0.55 and 2.21 % decrease in bone density measurements. Precision error in situ with polyester cast material was 0.71 %, and 2.31 % with Plaster of Paris cast material. The in vivo study comprised a prospective trial with 28 healthy adult participants to evaluate the effect of the two cast materials. Trabecular bone mineral density was increased by 0.5 % in the presence of a polyester cast and decreased by 4.22 % in the presence of a Plaster of Paris cast. Cortical bone mineral density was decreased by 3.46 and 5.54 % for polyester and Plaster of Paris, respectively. This study quantified the effects of orthopaedic casts on pQCT-derived bone parameters. The results suggest applicability of commonly utilised cast materials in combination with pQCT to assess fracture healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School-Western Precinct, The University of Melbourne, St. Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia.|Department of Orthopaedics, Western Health, Footscray, VIC, 3011, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4744-8948
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullen
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia.|Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia.
authors.forename: Romane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia.|Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.|Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School-Western Precinct, The University of Melbourne, St. Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodda
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia. peter.pivonka@unimelb.edu.au.|Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, 3021, Australia. peter.pivonka@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pivonka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011091:Polyesters; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters
keywords: Casting materials; Fracture healing; Peripheral quantitative computed tomography; Volumetric bone mineral density