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Updated: May 31, 2026
Surgical Angiogenesis in Porcine Tibial Allotransplantation: A New Large Animal Bone Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Model
Published on: August 13, 2017
Quantitative assessment of bone defect healing by multidetector CT in a pig model
Carolin Riegger1, Patric Kröpil, Pascal Jungbluth
1Medical Faculty, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Duesseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Objective:
To evaluate multidetector CT volumetry in the assessment of bone defect healing in comparison to histopathological findings in an animal model.
Materials And Methods:
In 16 mini-pigs, a circumscribed tibial bone defect was created. Multidetector CT (MDCT) of the tibia was performed on a 64-row scanner 42 days after the operation. The extent of bone healing was estimated quantitatively by MDCT volumetry using a commercially available software programme (syngo Volume, Siemens, Germany).The volume of the entire defect (including all pixels from -100 to 3,000 HU), the nonconsolidated areas (-100 to 500 HU), and areas of osseous consolidation (500 to 3,000 HU) were assessed and the extent of consolidation was calculated. Histomorphometry served as the reference standard.
Results:
The extent of osseous consolidation in MDCT volumetry ranged from 19 to 92% (mean 65.4 ± 18.5%). There was a significant correlation between histologically visible newly formed bone and the extent of osseous consolidation on MDCT volumetry (r = 0.82, P < 0.0001). A significant negative correlation was detected between osseous consolidation on MDCT and histological areas of persisting defect (r = -0.9, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
MDCT volumetry is a promising tool for noninvasive monitoring of bone healing, showing excellent correlation with histomorphometry.
