Validation of a morphometric reconstruction technique applied to a juvenile pelvis

Three-dimensional reconstructions of bone geometry from microCT (computed tomography) data are frequently used in biomechanical and finite element analyses. Digitization of bone models is usually a simple process for specimens with a complete geometry, but in instances of damage or disarticulation it can be very challenging. Subsequent to digitization, further imaging techniques are often required to estimate the geometry of missing bone or connecting cartilage. This paper presents an innovative approach to the reconstruction of incomplete scan data, to reproduce proper anatomical arrangements of bones, including absent connecting cartilaginous elements. Utilizing geometric morphometric tools, the reconstruction technique is validated through comparison of a reconstructed 9 year old pelvis, to the original CT data. A principal component analysis and an overlay of the two pelves provide a measure of the accuracy of the reconstructed model. Future work aims to investigate the biomechanical effects of any minor positional error on the bone's predicted structural properties through the use of finite element analysis.